Many of us using SGML are finding that new technologies are encroaching on the realm of text processing. The utility of SGML beyond text management has been known for some time, but only recently are tools becoming available to exploit the power of structural representation. As SGML is adapting to new requirements in the form of XML and the SGMLWeb TC, so the time for change has come for the International SGML Users' Group Newsletter.
It is important that the User Groups grow and contribute towards the development of SGML and related standards, and also act as an introductory focal point for new practitioners. Your newsletter should assist in these efforts by providing relevant information. Starting with this issue you will notice changes to the newsletter on a regular basis. We will be delivering a publication that fits your needs; please let us know what you think of what we are doing by emailing or letting your Chapter representative know so that we can use this information.
In this issue the focus is on XML: three distinguished contributors explain what XML is and what impact we should expect it to have on us. We also reprint an article from Mike Paciello, coordinator of the Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation, which explains what the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is and acts as a taste of things to come from a regular column from Mike. Rounding up our feature papers is a review of component reuse by Stéphane Bidoul. Also included are the general reports of the User Group Executive Committee meeting in Barcelona at SGML Europe 97.
Eamonn Neylon
ISUG Newsletter Editor
Contact Robin Cover with corrections and updates, or to submit contributions to the ISUG online document database.
