Decentralizing Data

Decentralizing Data

Tantek Çelik Chief Technologist Technorati
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

What are Microformats?