Summary: features for VOEvent v2.0

[Rob Seaman]

> I think that this is the clearest summary of what is in VOEvent 2.0  
> that I've yet seen.

Thanks.  The editors have begun preliminary work on the document -  
rereading it was a prerequisite.

It may help to describe what won't change.  No changes (other than to  
contained <References>) are planned for <Who>, <How>, <Description> or  
<Citations>.  The <VOEvent> element will only be updated with the new  
version, although XML-ish changes may be described regarding  
namespaces, etc.  The basic architecture of the packet will not  
change, rather we seek to clarify and fill in the blanks on  
functionality that was discussed at the very first VOEvent workshop.

The document will include some discussion of the important topic of  
vocabularies.  No explicit requirements have been placed on the packet  
format regarding vocabularies, but only on the content of specific  
fields within particular packets.

VOEvent has always represented a delicate balance between virtual  
observatory concepts and real (in particular, robotic) observatory  
practices.  We will maintain that balance while prudently adding  
features on both sides:

	http://www.mapsofconsciousness.com/12coins

(Borrowed from the ADASS data compression BoF.)

Rob