[PADG:1197] NISO Technical Metadata for Digital Still Images

["Oya Y. Rieger" <oyr1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

			**  NISO NEEDS YOUR INPUT! **

Technical metadata, which describes various aspects of image 
characteristics and the capture process, is increasingly being perceived as 
an essential component of any digitization initiative.  This category of 
metadata is not only required to support image quality assessment and image 
enhancement and processing, but is also seen as crucial for long-term 
collection management to ensure the longevity of digital collections.  The 
goal of the NISO Technical Metadata for Digital Still Images Standards 
initiative is to develop a generalized technical metadata standard 
applicable to all images regardless of their method of creation.  The 
charge of the Committee is to review and revise the "Data Dictionary for 
Technical Metadata for Digital Still Images" 
(http://www.niso.org/pdfs/DataDict.pdf), which presents a comprehensive 
list of technical data elements required to manage digital image 
collections. We would like to invite comments from our colleagues involved 
in various aspects of imaging to ensure that the draft dictionary is 
comprehensive and inclusive, representing various perspectives. The 
ultimate goal of the standard is to facilitate the development of 
applications to validate, process, manage, and migrate images of enduring 
value.

We are particularly interested in getting your feedback on the following 
issues:

a) Does the draft dictionary include all the data fields that are necessary 
to achieve the goals of technical metadata?
.  Document image provenance and history
.  Ensure that image data will be rendered accurately on output (e.g., 
displayed on screen, printed to paper or film, etc.)
.  Support the ongoing management of image files (e.g., processing, 
refreshing, or migration)
.  Assess the aesthetic value of a given image

b) Is it successful in describing quality attributes such as detail, color, 
tone, and file size?  What else would you recommend adding?

c) Of the elements present, do you have suggestions for changes within the 
definitions?  Do any definitions need to be expanded?  Do you agree with a 
structure where some elements are "required" and others are "optional" or 
"recommended"?  Should certain elements be repeatable?

d) Put yourself in the position of a user of this data dictionary.  What 
would you do to make it more usable for you (or your staff)?

e) Does this initiative relate well to other similar ones such as DIG or 
GDI+?  Do you know of other related initiatives?
.  DIG35: http://www.digitalimaging.org
.  GDI+: http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/display/GDIplus_Metadata.htm

f) Do you have any other comments?

National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
Technical Metadata for Digital Still Images Standards Committee 
(http://www.niso.org/commitau.html)
Co-Chairs:
Robin Dale (RLG) <Robin_Dale@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Oya Y. Rieger (Cornell University Library)  <oyr1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
_____________________________________________

Oya Y. Rieger
Coordinator, Digital Imaging and Preservation Research Unit
Co-Editor, RLG DigiNews (http://www.rlg.org/preserv/diginews/)
Department of Preservation and Conservation
Cornell University Library
215 Olin Library
Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: oyr1@xxxxxxxxxxx
Phone: (607) 254-5160
Fax:  (607) 254-7493
_____________________________________________