Decentralizing Data

What is Decentralized Data?

• centralized data:
  • service dependent data
  • kept in proprietary formats
  • and/or in walled gardens
• decentralized data:
  • user centric data
  • available in open formats
  • allows user to move it around

What is Decentralized Data?

• ability to host and share from where YOU want, on the Web
  • on your own website
  • on a shared website with friends
  • on a hosting service
• and use it, move it, index it, how you want
  • to another independent website
  • to a hosted service
  • to a desktop application

Decentralized Data Requires

• Standardized open formats for the data
• Move around interoperably with high fidelity
• For the Web, that's where microformats come in

microformats.org

• Launched one year ago yesterday
• With draft standards for
  • contacts, events, reviews etc.
• One year later
  • we have numerous interoperable implementations

Supernova Venue Page

• The page is marked up with hCard
• It uses Technorati's Contacts Feeds Service
• Converts it to vCards which import into address books

Supernova Workshop Page

• The page is marked up with hCalendar
• It uses Technorati's Events Feeds Service
• Converts it to iCalendar which imports into your calendar

Workshop Panelists

• Kevin Lawver (AOL)
• Rohit Khare (CommerceNet)
• Brian Dear (EVDB)
• Tantek Çelik (Technorati) - moderator
• Matt Kaufman (Edgeio)
• Matt Augustine (Microsoft)
• Andy Baio (Yahoo!)

Colophon

• XHTML
• CSS
• S5 v1.1b5xoxo
• XOXO
• hCard
• hCalendar
• rel="license"
• Some rights reserved. CC by-2.5
• http://tantek.com/presentations/2006/06/decentralizing-data/