Desktop Program Group
The Role of the IT DialTone Architecture
from a Desktop Perspective
The mission of The Open Group is "To cause the creation of a viable, global information infrastructure that is ubiquitous, trusted, reliable and as easy to use as the telephone."
This infrastructure, IT DialTone, must span the complete range of information systems, from individual consumers up to large enterprises.
The key to success is a single ubiquitous publicly available infrastructure which supports the broad and varied needs of all types of usage, providing an appropriate and manageable quality of service in each case.
For The Open Group, the IT DialTone action plan is the major deliverable. It represents the bridge between the needs of customers and the actions of the vendors to satisfy those needs. It identifies where current activities by system and software vendors, and the work of the other consortia, are not meeting the needs of customers and where The Open Group can add most value through its broad portfolio of products and services, including
- Technology research
- Technology development
- Standardization
- Testing
- conformance services, including branding
The Open Group will provide the forum for the evolution of the architecture and its population.
The Open Group Architecture Board, with representation from buyers and customers will oversee the process of translation of these business needs into technology infrastructure requirements, checking to ensure that the original business needs are being met.
The Open Group Program Groups will over see the analysis of technology and market directions and the development of The Open Group action plan
The Desktop Program Group
As all IT DialTone facilities will be accessible from a "desktop". The Desktop Program Group will therefore have a key role in bringing all the above dimensions to the desktop. At The Open Group Quarterly Members Conference in Boston (22-26 September), the Desktop Program Group will build on its previous work, focusing on the IT DialTone requirements:
- security (jointly with the Security Program Group), with emphasis on single sign-on, authentication, and integrity and privacy of data.
- access to applications on remote servers (including to legacy systems and applications), with appropriate performance (response times, etc.).
- empowerment of users to configure their desktop for different levels of functionality, tailoring them to the levels of functionality, security, performance and ease of use which best suits their business needs.
- provision of all these features on the "mobile desktop", to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of those whose desktop is continually on the move.
The agenda will include assessments of key technologies which are likely to underpin solutions, and reviews of emerging technologies and products from the leading players in the industry. Among these are Java and ActiveX; new protocols and associated techniques which enable any application to be run on a low-cost desktop device; the Network Computer Reference Profile; work in The Open Group on DCE and ActiveX Core Technology, on Java and DCE, on CDE/Motif, and on the X protocol; and liaisons with other external groups who share similar interests.
A detailed Desktop Program Group agenda for this upcoming Quarterly Members Conference on 22-26 September 1997 will be published soon.