23 July 2008

What is XML?

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a markup language that you can use to create your own tags. It was created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to overcome the limitations of HTML, the Hypertext Markup Language that is the basis for all Web pages. Like HTML, XML is based on SGML -- Standard Generalized Markup Language. Although SGML has been used in the publishing industry for decades, its perceived complexity intimidated many people that otherwise might have used it (SGML also stands for "Sounds great, maybe later"). XML was designed with the Web in mind.

08 July 2008

Data, Information, Knowledge, & Wisdom

Data, Information, Knowledge, & Wisdom: "According to Russell Ackoff, a systems theorist and professor of organizational change, the content of the human mind can be classified into five categories:

1. Data: symbols

2. Information: data that are processed to be useful; provides answers to 'who', 'what', 'where', and 'when' questions

3. Knowledge: application of data and information; answers 'how' questions

4. Understanding: appreciation of 'why'

5. Wisdom: evaluated understanding."