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Re: [uom-ontology-std] FW: Quantity kinds

To: uom-ontology-std <uom-ontology-std@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Ed Barkmeyer <edbark@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:29:20 -0400
Message-id: <4AA14E70.1090200@xxxxxxxx>
Sorry.  What I wrote was probably more confusing.  See correction below.    (01)

Ed Barkmeyer wrote:
> Rijgersberg, Hajo wrote:
>   
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Please allow me to make a remark about quantity kinds. Hopefully this 
>discussion is appreciated; it is solely meant to be constructive, with the aim 
>of working together to achieve a high-quality vocabulary.
>>
>> Let me get to the point. I think we should not define a separate class 
>"quantity kind". "Kind" is an implicit part of the ontology language; classes 
>are meant to model "kinds". We should not deviate from this principle, but 
>exploit it.
>>
>> So not, for example:
>>
>> "length of my table" ---"has quantity kind"---> "length"
>> "length of my table" ---"is a"---> "quantity"
>> "length" ---"is a"---> "quantity kind"
>>
>> but:
>>
>> "length of my table" ---"is a"---> "length (quantity)"
>> "length (quantity)" ---"is a"---> "quantity"
>>   
>>     
> The problem is that we wish to call out certain subtypes of "quantity" 
> as having interesting properties.  For example, "unit of measure" -- "is 
> a" -- "quantity"
> but NOT  "unit of measure" -- "is an instance of" -- "quantity kind"
>   
I should have written:
  "unit of measure" -- "is a kind of" -- "quantity"
but NOT "unit of measure" -- "is a" -- "quantity kind"
> Every "quantity kind" is not only a subtype of quantity, but it must 
> also satisfy:  If K is a "quantity kind" and x and y are any two 
> instances of K, then x and y are comparable. 
>
> A 'quantity kind' is a classifier whose instances are classifiers of 
> quantities (ontological 'kind's of quantity) that also satisfy the above 
> requirement.  If you find the use of 'kind' to be confusing in this 
> regard, we could call it a 'quantity frazbot', but VIM uses the term 
> "kind of quantity" with this intent.
>
> -Ed
>
> 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone,
> 'it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less.'
>   -- Lewis Carroll (C.L. Dodgson), "Through the Looking Glass"
>
>       (02)


-- 
Edward J. Barkmeyer                        Email: edbark@xxxxxxxx
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8263                Tel: +1 301-975-3528
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8263                FAX: +1 301-975-4694    (03)

"The opinions expressed above do not reflect consensus of NIST, 
 and have not been reviewed by any Government authority."    (04)


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