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#3 - Set Responsiveness Expectations

Definition

The responsiveness status of a semantic artefact reflects its maintenance level, its ability to perform its intended tasks, and the availability and involvement of its editors or working group.

List of the Statuses

The responsiveness statuses are:

  • Active: The semantic artefact has a contact person who is responsive. New terms, elements, or features are being added if the semantic artefact is still evolving, or other revisions are made in response to community requests and/or the goals of the editorial team. IRIs are implemented and maintained if needed.
  • Inactive: The semantic artefact has a responsive contact person, and a current version is available. However, no updates or edits are being made, and requests for changes are either significantly delayed or are not being addressed by the editors.
  • Unresponsive: The semantic artefact does not have a responsive contact person, but it is still actively maintained. Although updates continue, there is no direct interaction with users or response to external requests.
  • Orphaned: The semantic artefact was designed and potentially developed to some extent, but it is no longer actively maintained, updated, or supported. The semantic artefact lacks a responsive contact person, and no further edits or updates are being made. Inquiries or requests for edits are not addressed. The semantic artefact is not deprecated or obsolete, but users should be aware that it is effectively discontinued.
  • Obsolete: The semantic artefact is no longer maintained (either inactive or orphaned), and its original developers do not recommend its use. This may be because a newer, more suitable resource is available, or previous versions have significant issues or are no longer accessible. Generally, “Obsolete” is a special status that should be assigned by the semantic artefact’s representative, which confirms that the semantic artefact is formally deprecated. This practice is not widespread in the Heritage field.

Usage

One of the aims of the H-SeTIS survey was to assess the responsiveness of existing HSAs. Responsiveness awareness is essential for SAs because it enables them to remain effective within dynamic and heterogeneous ecosystems. It allows artefacts to adapt to evolving knowledge, reflect changes in domain conceptualizations, and sustain interoperability with emerging standards. In doing so, responsiveness preserves the accuracy, reliability, and overall relevance of these artefacts, ensuring they continue to serve as trustworthy knowledge resources.

Beyond technical adaptability, responsiveness also contributes to sustainability and governance. Artefacts designed with mechanisms for refinement and accountability are less prone to obsolescence, foster user confidence, and maintain alignment with community needs. By making modification processes transparent and traceable, responsiveness enhances legitimacy and promotes broader acceptance and adoption across diverse contexts.

To this end, H-SeTIS applies the five labels introduced earlier to indicate the responsiveness status of semantic artefacts. A status is assigned based on direct communication with the artefact's developers, except when sufficient publicly available information allows for an independent determination. If no response is received within two months of contact, the artefact is provisionally labeled Unresponsive or Orphaned; however, labels can be changed at any time after direct contact.

Recommendations

  • If you are the author of a semantic artefact not listed in the H-SeTIS database, or if you believe an artefact has been incorrectly labeled, please open an issue to request a new entry or a correction.
  • If you are developing or maintaining a semantic artefact, consider aligning it with the RADIOSA recommendations to enhance interoperability and long-term sustainability.
  • Include all the administrative metadata useful to assess the authorship and responsiveness of HSAs. These comprise dcterms:author and dcterms:contributor for the former while dcterms:created, dcterms:modified, dcterms:license and owl:versionIRI for the latter (as exemplified in section #1 - Be FAIR (Enough)).
  • If you believe the current responsiveness statuses need refinement or additional categories, contribute suggestions based on real-world cases and your professional expertise.
  • Share experiences and case studies related to maintaining, updating, or retiring semantic artefacts. Practical examples can help refine and validate the proposed statuses.
  • If you work in a Museum, Archive, or other Heritage-related organization, advocate for the adoption of these best practices to ensure the longevity and usability of semantic artefacts in the field.

For further improvements or discussions, please open an issue on GitLab.