FIDIS
Future of Identity in the Information Society (No. 507512)
D2.3
[Final], Version: 2.0
File: fidis-wp2-del2.3.models.doc
Page 42
5 Summary and Future Work
5.1 Summary
In the previous section, the different facets of representation of a person have been examined,
and for each of them the application domains that are the most likely to utilise each of these
facets has been identified. To date and to our knowledge, a similar work had not been
conducted on a large scale, although some tentative attempts, specific to some domains (in the
domain of e-learning, for instance, Diogene (2002) tries to identify other user models in
different domains in order to provide guidance in the definition of the student model), are
worthy of mentioning.
This document has revealed some notable findings. Firstly, it has been observed that several
application domains (human resource, e-learning, justice) have already started to create quite
complete and holistic models of the person that fulfil the needs of this domain (see the
example of HR-XML, IMS/LIP, or JXDM in the annex). In some cases, domains have
independently developed different representations (in some cases very elaborated) for
representing the same objective (such as for the representation of the address of a person),
raising the question of the duplication of work.
In other cases, attempts to reuse some of the existing specifications have been observed. For
instance there is a clear similarity between the specifications developed for e-learning in
IMS/LIP and in Human resources with HR-XML that indicates some clear interdependence
between the two specifications. Also, the Liberty ID-SIS Service Specification explicitly
mentions the use of another specification (vCard) as part of the specification.
Currently, the modelling of identities appears to be composed of dispersed initiatives, is still
very much under construction (and incomplete), and very complex for the most advanced
initiatives. Such initiatives would probably benefit from additional cross-disciplinary studies,
such as this, even if the benefit of a holistic approach still needs to be demonstrated (because
of its complexity). It has been noted in particular that there is relatively limited interaction
between different “Universes” (such as identity management and intelligent adaptive systems)
for which representation of persons is very important.
Finally, and not surprisingly, it can be noted that some aspects of the person modelling, such
as the behavioural or social characteristics, are still largely underdeveloped, especially
considering that they will be essential in the new technologies of tomorrow, such as
intelligent mobile and ubiquitous applications.
5.2 Future work
In Chapter 4, we provided a first preliminary application perspective of identity
representation. For instance, we have mentioned the work of different application domains
such as human resources (HR-XML), Education (IMS/LIP - Learner information package),
government, police and justice (JXDM), healthcare, commerce (CIQ - Customer Information
FIDIS
Future of Identity in the Information Society (No. 507512)
D2.3
[Final], Version: 2.0
File: fidis-wp2-del2.3.models.doc
Page 43
Quality), banking, business (business card), mobility or leisure. We have also found that some
of the application domains such as human resources (with HR-XML) and justice (with
JXDM) are already pretty advanced in the elaboration of relatively holistic models, although
it remains to be seen what the impact is on the complexity of the systems that will have to
implement them.
It is clear that a more in-dept and systematic work of identifying the attributes of identity in
different application domains, and an analysis of the commonalities between the different
domains would be useful.
Finally, other routes that deserve studies in their own right are related to:
1.
The control and the distribution of the personal information.
People may not want in the future to see their personal information managed within a single
centralised system. Federated identity management systems such as the Liberty Alliance may
have to deal with several standards of representation of person’s information.
2.
The management of multiple identities.
The grouping of attributes may have to be considered more dynamic in order to address a
larger diversity of contexts (an application may for instance have to deal with several identity
representations varying over time)
3.
The legal and ethical issues associated to the representation,
the control and the use of
person’s information.
A distinction should indeed be formed between the characteristics of the person that can
technically be represented and captured (this limit is continuously pushed forward with
progress in the technology and in knowledge modelling), and the one’s that should be
represented and captured - society has to determine limits on information that can be
represented and processed in Information Systems.