The MHEG-5 Verification Group was instantiated in Nov. 1995 during the SC29 meeting in Dallas, TX, for examination of MHEG-5 DIS text for technical correctness.
It has since then served as a focus point for active developers, implementation coordination and test object provision by MHEG-5 experts during the MHEG-5 DIS to MHEG-5 IS development. MHEG-5 has now reached IS stage; the initial mandate of the VGroup is expired.
In it's working time the VGroup has reached a well recognized position within MHEG standardization. It's activities have contributed to demonstration applications, which have actually been used for the DAVIC interop event in New York 1996. The VGroup has produced substantial technical expertise input to SC29WG12 work. A mailing list, which comprises many of the active developers of MHEG has been installed, and a mail archive was maintained. The VGroups WWW site is one of the major MHEG related WWW sites in the Internet.
However, due to the finalization of MHEG-5, at least a reconsideration of it's mandate, and it's relation to the standardization body is required. This article expresses initial views and ideas from the current VGroups maintainer. It should be discussed within the VGroup and the MHEG committee for further decision on the upcoming SC29 meeting (probably Jan. 97 in USA). The proposal suggests to continue the VGroup activity by taking into account, that
It is noted above, that within ISO a similar verification group focussing on MHEG-6 may be installed. The decisions of the MHEG committee on that, in particular with respect to the scope of this group, will influence the future activity of the VGroup quite much. However, this depends also on the future participation of MHEG-5 experts on ISO meetings.
Due to the reasons above it is proposed, that the VGroup as an informal collection of experts continues it's work. However, the alignment with SC29WG12 work may need to be refined, since MHEG-5 experts from the VGroup may not participate future SC29 meetings as before, due to finalization of the IS. Since MHEG-5 is in IS stage, the verification work will presumably shift to a more application oriented activity. Therefore it is suggested, that the name of the group changes to "MHEG-5 User Group", in short UGroup.
The main communication facility in the past has been email and the WWW site. The use of these facilities should be extended in the future. Even if face to face meetings have been useful for specific purposes, e.g. to produce and finalize the DAVIC demonstration application, such meeting should be replaced as much as possible by electronic/internet mechanisms. If meetings are scheduled, they should be aligned with SC29 or other related events. If a MHEG-6 VGroup is installed for MHEG-6 as well, this may serve for organizational framework within ISO/SC29, since the MHEG-5 UGroup may not have an official status in terms of ISO.
Suggested terms of future work:
The proposal above should be discussed (and enhanced or approved :-) by SC29WG12 on the next meeting. Until then, a discussion within SC29WG12 and the VGroup should take place. Modifications of the proposal above may be applied.
The proposal suggests to move the VGroups activity from technical examination to application of MHEG-5, and therefore make the group more independent from ISO. It requests more consistency and accuracy in the public representation (i.e. the WWW site). Such an approach will require additional resources, which have to be provided by UGroup members. The Core Team has to facilitate this.
If the proposal in principle is accepted, GMD FOKUS will be able to provide the WWW site and the mail list facilities for the MHEG-5 UGroup.
External activities have to be taken into account. A provisional list is given below. It would be appreciated to establish a kind of liaison or increased awareness with these groups. It is quite possible, that the groups listed below may provide some of the facilities which are intended by the UGroup.