The Metadata Working Group (MWG) has recent posted Test Files for verifying The Guidelines for Handling Image Metadata. These files are critical for developers that are handling image metadata in their applications or services. Especially if they trying to reconcile IIM-IPTC, Exif, and XMP metadata.
The specification and the test files are the result of the great collaboration between the companies the make up the MWG: Adobe, Apple, Canon, Microsoft, Nokia, and Sony.
The topic may be pretty esoteric or dry for most but metadata interoperability will be increasing important in improving our digital experience. The rate of sharing digital images is exploding. The ability to tag and sharing information related to those images as they move from phone/camera to OS, to application, to online service and then back to a phone is critical in providing the foundation for the sharing and personalization experiences.
It also provides the foundation for sharing and preserving important information such as copyright and rights usage. Embedded metadata such as XMP is becoming the communication channel that is carried with the media – it can carry the connections to build businesses – think about embedding your business card info in your media, or even e-commerce related information about how to license the image or purchase what is in the picture.
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