Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel

Chapter 3. ROC Talk

Principles

Although the intention of this book is to be practical, it is impossible to go completely without theory. This chapter covers that need. Let us start the ROC excavation with some principles:

1. A resource is an abstract set of information.

• Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel is a book.

• Mona Lisa is a painting.

2. Each resource may be identified by one or more logical identifier.

• The book Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel is the book referred to here.

• The book Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel is the book described here.

• The painting Mona Lisa is the most famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

• The painting Mona Lisa is also known as La Gioconda.

3. A logical identifier may be resolved within an informational context to obtain a physical resource-representation.

• Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel can be resolved as the DocBook file I am editing right now.

• Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel can be resolved as the PDF file you can read.

4. Computation is the reification of a resource to a physical resource-representation.

Note

According to my dictionary, reification means bringing into being or turning concrete.

• Opening this DOCBOOK file in a text editor

• Requesting this PDF file in a web browser

The verbs (opening, requesting) are the computation, the hyperlinks are logical identifiers, and what you get on screen (even if you get an error, as you probably will in the case of the file since that is locally on my machine) is the physical ...