The SGML standardization framework and the introduction of XML.
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is on its way to becoming a global standard for the representation, exchange, and presentation of information on the World Wide Web (WWW). More than that, XML is creating a standardization framework, in terms of an open network of meta-standards and mediators that allows for the definition of further conventions and agreements in specific business domains. Such an approach is particularly needed in the healthcare domain; XML promises to especially suit the particularities of patient records and their lifelong storage, retrieval, and exchange. At a time when change rather than steadiness is becoming the faithful feature of our society, standardization frameworks which support a diversified growth of specifications that are appropriate to the actual needs of the users are becoming more and more important; and efforts should be made to encourage this new attempt at standardization to grow in a fruitful direction. Thus, the introduction of XML reflects a standardization process which is neither exclusively based on an acknowledged standardization authority, nor a pure market standard. Instead, a consortium of companies, academic institutions, and public bodies has agreed on a common recommendation based on an existing standardization framework. The consortium's process of agreeing to a standardization framework will doubtlessly be successful in the case of XML, and it is suggested that it should be considered as a generic model for standardization processes in the future.
Fierz
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W
Institute for Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, University of St. Gallen, CH-9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland. walter.fierz@gd-ikmi.sg.ch
Grütter
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R
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000592:standards*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011381:Programming Languages; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology