[alt-media-res] video network integration proposal to develop metadata standards

[zoe]

hey all (esp steffen and andre, since sian is already up with this..)
be great to have any responses to this soon, we hope to get the research
done before the clearerchannel/re:transmission meet in mid october, so we
need to start very soon if at all. this is pretty complex technical stuff
and hard to explain in simple language, so if anyone wants to talk it
through with me please do call, me and/or mick are in a position to answer
queries and if nec rewrite this more clearly....
thanks!!
l9ve
zoe
Video RDF standards proposal, seeking funds form the alt-media-research
project, Sept 10th, 2006

Title:

Towards a metadata & syndication standard for online, audio-visual media.

Summary of intent:

The research aims towards a framework for a common metadata and online
syndication/distribution standard for use by independent media and campaign
groups and outlets - including indymedia, clearer channel and ifiwatch.tv.
The framework will include both a detailed approach to describing video
content (within the RDF standard), and for incorporating such descriptions
into an extant syndication system (RSS). The purpose of this research is
ultimately to facilitate information exchange between diverse projects, but
at this stage primary groundwork is indicated, involving assessment of
current status of ongoing work in this area and the best way forward,
substantive informing of and consultation with an initial selection of
potential user groups, leading to a practical proposal for further
discussion at the October re:transmission event, toward achieving ultimate
consensus on plans for next steps.

Existing projects use RSS to create a channel guide of RSS media channels
(for example democracy player). Standardising RDF metadata would allow a
service like this to search different channels by author, keyword, length
etc, and create new RSS feeds as appropriate.

Context:

Together, digital reproduction and the internet mean that AV materials can
be distributed widely at a low cost. Meanwhile, the 'entry barrier' for
equipment needed to play back digital files is now extremely low. All that
is required now, is for people to be able more easily to find the material
they are interested in.

Attempts have been to create centralised online repositories of AV
materials, with varying degrees of success. However institutional
prerogatives suggest a different approach, allowing parties to retain
hosting an maintenance of their own materials while offering a system that
allows them to exchange this material with others. The technology exists to
do this. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) specifies a framework for
announcing the existence of new material to third parties. RDF (Resource
Description Framework) specifies a framework for describing informational
objects, and this can of course be extended to cover audiovisual objects.

Taken together, these provisions allow for those producing and archiving AV
materials to announce new additions in a consistent and predictable way,
allowing others to make use of and redistribute information about specific
materials. This has the potential to massively increase awareness about the
materials by allowing their distribution in diverse and unforeseen contexts.
For exammple, if the work processes to which this sub-project would
contriobute are successful, we could envisage the following scenario:

A single user wants to create a news feed that he can syndicate on his
AntiWar blog. He creates a GIGO account and uses the Smart Filters function
to produce the following filters:
-Show all items posted to BBC News, Reuters, Ananova, CNN, with
keyword WAR, Iraq
-Show all items containing keywords Chomsky, Pilger etc
-Show all items rated above 3 by Group "AntiWarHeadsAnonymous"
The user thus obtains an output with a unique RSS identity. He uses this on
his blog. Something similar could be acieved with ifiwatch.tv - a feed of
all media related critically to IFIs - and clearerchannel.org - perhaps a
feed of all underground video produced in the UK..?


Project proposal:

At the first Transmission meeting in Rome, June 2006, it was agreed that we
need to develop common metadata standards that would enable coherent
information exchange between diverse projects. Accordingly, the primary aim
of this research is to produce recommendations for a pragmatic common
metadata and syndication/distribution standard facilitating collaborative
use, re-use and distribution of existing information, with immediate utility
for a specific test group of independent media and campaign video projects.
Our approach is threefold:

  a.. to make contact with potential participant groups and networks,
explaining what we hope to do, and why, finding the right people in the
groups to talk to and if appropriate invite to the Re:Transmission workshop
on RDF standards.
2. to offer a systematic and functionally complete metadata specification
for describing video including :

a. technical data, duration, codec details, container details, and so forth

b. administrative data, creator/s, date of creation, license, appropriate
use

c. content (i.e. 'what is this film about?')

For (a) and (b), the Dublin Core Application Profile for Digital Video
produced by the Video Development Initiative
(http://www.vide.net/workgroups/videoaccess/resources.shtml) will be updated
and adapted (the Video profile lacks, for example, fields for describing
codecs.)

For descriptive data (c), we propose to allow a free-form descriptive field
plus the implementation of 'folksonomic' meta-tagging or keywording. Such a
system encourages producers to describe their content in pithy keywords or
'tags'. The system has been well tested in del.icio.us, Flickr and
Technorati.

3. To offer a set of guidelines for encoding the results of both the above,
in a form compliant with one or other of the RSS standards, and specify some
necessary next steps to take this work forward.

Consultation

The resulting report for the recommendations for the metadata standard will
have a unique opportunity in October 2006 to be presented at a workshop
during the Re:Transmission gathering of video content producers,
distributors and technical experts (itself supported by the alt-media
project under the Clearer Channel funding stream). In the leadup to this
meeting, target participant groups and networks will be informed of the
potential of this kind of work, assisted to work through some of the issues
and implications arising for them, and invited to prepare for the
Re:Transmission workshop to make it as productive as possible a use of
peoples' time. After the re:tx meeting a team will be formed to implement a
simple means (likely a Java or web application) for marking up video to the
agreed standard.

Potential initial participant online video projects:

* [http://www.ifiwatch.tv Eyes on IFIs]

* [http://www.ClearerChannel.org Clearer Channel]

* [http://www.Pambazuka.org Pambazuka news]

* [http://www.foei.org Friends of the Earth International]

* [http://www.TogetherTV.org Christian Aid]

* [http://www.BigPicture.TV Big Picture TV]

* [http://tv.oneworld.net OneWorld TV]

* [http://www.filmmakersagainstwar.org Film Makers Against War]

Initial Consultation:

Identify initial individuals to communicate with in each group, circulate to
them a document explaining the context, value and future potential of this
work. call to see if they understand, clarify any questions at this stage
and discuss how they can move forward with it internally in prep for re:tx.
Then we'd document and use information gathered to find out which
groups/individuals could be useful and keen to join the re:tx metadata
workshop and/or ongoing team, who needs more info of what kind, which groups
would need more time to spread and discuss this information internally
before engaging in a practical way...

Timetable:

September: Prepare briefing for potential participants including terms,
goals, context and rough costs and timetable of ongoing work in this field,
and send initial invitations to re:tx meeting. Start research and
consultations on tools and standards.

Early October: Establish first draft of standards for video metadata
interchange.

Mid October: Meeting of informed and interested groups/individuals to
discuss draft and make amendments.

Late October through November: Completion of documentation, including
theory-relevant explanation of the role and value of this work.

Budget for this research sub project:

Research consultancy, 13 days @ £200 per day

10 days technical work,

3 days initial consultation/involvement of potential re:tx participants.

total £2,600.

?

******************************************************************
Films about International Financial Institutions: http://www.ifiwatch.tv
Writing on the Global Environment Facility: http://www.newgreenorder.info
http://shootingpeople.org/cards/zoe      skype name: zoeyou
tel: +44 (0) 20 7723 2875   mobile: +44 (0) 7931 316 970
zoe at esemplastic.net, eyes at ifiwatchnet.org, zoeontheroad at hotmail.com
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