• Rulemaking
• Dialogues
• Technology
  • Background
  • Projects
  • Resources
• Networks

Background

• Standards. Wherever possible, public standards should guide the choice of hardware specifications, data formats and communications protocols. This promotes interoperability among different hardware components and software modules, which, in turn reduces the total cost of ownership to users.
• Architecture. Projects should be built around systems. Rather than taking any particular product and attempting to see how far one can go in applying it, users should map out their overall needs, consider how information fits into the workflow of their daily activities, and construct an architecture that fits their needs and activities. Specific hardware and software can then be selected to flesh out this architectural framework.
• Open Source. A particularly attractive way of implementing a standards-based architecture is to be Open Source software. Not only does such software reduce the cost of ownership; it also allows for a more transparent implementation of a given architecture and given set of standards than is possible with most proprietary products.
• Escalating Support. Hardware and software are only a part of the overall picture of technology implementation. Support and maintenance are equally important. Info Ren has encouraged clients to adopt an escalting model of support. This involves building capacity at all levels of the organization, so that local problems can be identified and solved at local sites, while more complex problems can be identified with meaningful trouble reports passed to personnel qualified to deal with them.