Open standards, microformats, user person-controlled data, etc.

This conversation was inspired by Thomas Vander Wal's keynote, and sought to expand more specifically on the question of how we can own or control our own data (and metadata) instead of giving it to corporations who may use it for purposes with which we don't agree.

Please add additional notes, questions, links, etc.

Definitions

• Microformats: machine-readable data in open, agreed-upon formats that is also human readable by being embedded in HTML, eg: hCards, XFN.
  • In Other words: "Designed for humans first and machines second, microformats are a set of simple, open data formats built upon existing and widely adopted standards. Instead of throwing away what works today, microformats intend to solve simpler problems first by adapting to current behaviors and usage patterns (e.g. XHTML, blogging).' - http://microformats.org/about
• OpenID: persistent, secure identity online. Can be used for login at multiple sites and may contain additional information about the person, eg: ClaimID.

Learn more

• http://microformats.org
• http://openid.net
• http://technorati.com/tag/microformats
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microformat

Unresolved questions and other thoughts

• How to balance our desire for openness and extensibility with our need for security and privacy?
• Twitter supports hAtom, hCard and XFN.
• LinkedIn supports hResume

Please join Change.org and show support for implementing microformats.

Thanks, everyone!

= Ruby