Re: [www-vrml] Tim BL Is Baffled, Too

[Miriam English <miriam@werple.net.au>]

Hi Neil,


Neil TREVETT wrote:

> Don't stop now - we are almost agreeing!! :)

This will definitely have to be my last. I am letting my work slip badly.

> Miriam - do you think we can overcome any barriers to people like 
> yourself joining?  If you are busy - you can just lurk - and make sure 
> we don't do anything crazy :)

Yep. Free membership.


>  >> The problem comes when [companies] are given undue importance in the 
> scheme of things.
>
> Miriam - I am genuinely not sure what you mean by special status - at 
> the moment a professional members has PRECISELY the same rights as a 
> corporate member.   The participation agreement 3.0 actually tries to 
> give corporations SOME more rights - as at the moment we have companies 
> joining as individuals as they get precisely the same benefits.  Can you 
> tell me why you think companies are somehow being pampered - I really 
> want to understand to know what I am missing - or to be able to set the 
> record straight :)

Sorry. :) I am an idiot. I should have rewritten that paragraph entirely. I started by talking just about companies, but then was talking about paid members, corporate and otherwise..


> Any successful standard needs corporate enlightened self-interest. 
>  Companies have to be able to get a return - but those that get it 
> realize its easier to establish a market and THEN fight for market share 
> - rather than fight over the creation of an opportunity in the first 
> place.   We can harness corporate greed to make an  opportunity for us 
> all :)

Well, that is the theory. Is it working?


>  >>  VRML/X3D/the consortium can survive without any corporate sponsors 
> if it has plenty of users
>
> I honestly don't believe that would be true - there is not the 
> concentration of users to create a self-organizing community that could 
> produce a specification roadmap

There was a much smaller community when VRML 1.0 began it all.


> I am suggesting that we harness BOTH the power of the 
> community AND a Consortium to promote the cause.  One doesn't have to be 
> exclusive of the other. 

I agree. They don't have to be mutually exclusive.


> Do we have a chance to make it happen?  Be honest :)

Honestly? I'm sorry, no.
I think the consortium will continue to become more insular. X3D will revitalise it for a little while, but that will wane without the influx of bright new minds. In the end I think people will look back at this wonderful thing and puzzle over why it became a backwater and why something with so much promise could have fizzled out.

I really hate to say this, and I almost deleted it before posting, but this is how I think it will pan out. I really wish it wasn't so. I'd much rather be part of a bold venture that I think will be on every desktop in the not-too-distant future. But no company or group has it right as far as I can see. There is a window of opportunity, but I think it is closing fast.

Best wishes,

	- Miriam


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