With the presentation of version 1.0 of the
PBCore, are we finished? Probably not. As the PBCore is refined and
used by various communities, we will undoubtedly add extensions to the
existing set of metadata elements to accommodate specials needs.
Extensions are additional descriptions for
media resources that have been crafted by organizations outside of the
PBCore development Project. These extensions fulfill the metadata
requirements for these outside groups as they identify and describe
their own types of media with specialized, custom terminologies. To
be perfectly honest, the PBCore could be considered as an extension
to their metadata scheme...but that's all a matter of perspective.
For example, extensions that we know are important
to Public Broadcasting are those related to the use of media resources
in educational venues. The Dublin Core has a draft proposal for metadata
elements being assembled by its Education
Working Group. There are other applicable extensions from
the IEEE
Learning Object Metadata (LOM) Project.
DC-Ed |
Audience |
DC-Ed |
Audience.Mediator |
DC-Ed |
Standard |
DC-Ed |
Standard.Identifier |
DC-Ed |
Standard.Version |
IEEE
LOM |
InteractivityType |
IEEE
LOM |
InteractivityLevel |
IEEE
LOM |
TypicalLearningTime |
As well, the Sharable Content Object Reference
Model (SCORM)
aims to foster creation of reusable learning content as "instructional
objects" within a common technical framework for computer and Web-based
learning. SCORM describes that technical
framework by providing a harmonized set of guidelines, specifications,
and standards based on the work of several distinct e-learning specifications
and standards bodies. The IEEE Learning Object Metadata is folded into
the SCORM standards.
Also of importance are descriptions
related to accessibility issues. Many of these are documented through
the IMS
Project.
Of course, there are metadata needs that public
radio and public television share. Often their needs are unique to their
own production workflows and distribution channels, requiring customized
or industry-specific descriptors.
Likewise, when you consider the activities
related to Digital Interactive TV Guides, ATSC Digital Television System
capabilities, and various playout systems for Public Broadcasting stations,
the number of metadata extensions grows in order to service the unique
needs of various Public Broadcasting users and communities.
The intent of the Public Broadcasting Metadata Dictionary Project is to first spawn a core set of metadata descriptors that
are applicable to most venues and scenarios. The PBMD Project is focused on
the ability to exchange metadata between parties rather than trying
to build a completely comprehensive, all encompassing, über metadata
system that satisifies all user requirements. As extensions are evaluated
and experts help the PBMD Project encorporate their metadata, the PBCore becomes
more robust, but simple enough to be understood and usable by most of
us.
