What does interoperability mean?

Answer 1

Interoperability has different meanings for different contexts. A common context is within a particular computer system, such as a personal computer, or over a network connection (net-centric interoperability). Other contexts might involve physical connections such as mounting connections for cameras and strobe lights, standard tow hitch receivers and balls, or business processes such as real estate listings, stock exchanges, or even recognition of driver's licences, marriage/birth certificates, or passports from other jurisdictions. A taxonomy of different contexts for interoperability would be a useful starting point, but this is likely to take years to develop consensus on. For computer systems and network contexts, interoperability is the ability for separate entities (e.g., devices, software programs, agents/users, institutions) to function usefully with each other inside that context for some set of purposes. While this might be viewed a binary condition in some circumstances, there is usually some aspect of degree associated with the concept of interoperability. So a particular device or program might be interoperable with others on a given computer, but only in specific ways and for specific functions/features. And the scope of the context in which they are interoperable may be constrained in various ways. For example, said program and devices might only work with specific operating systems or versions of the operating systems, or with only specific network protocols or versions of those protocols. And the purposes that the using agents or institutions have in mind will determine whether a given set of entities are "interoperable enough" to accomplish those purposes. While people often use the term interoperability or interoperable without specifying a purpose or context, they always have an implicit set of purposes and contexts in mind, whether conscious of these or not. It helps to be explicit about them if one wants some degree of assurance of interoperability among any given set of entities or some understanding of the degree of interoperability that can be expected for one's purposes.

Answer 2

Interoperability has different meanings for different contexts. A common context is within a particular computer system, such as a personal computer, or over a network connection (net-centric interoperability). Other contexts might involve physical connections such as mounting connections for cameras and strobe lights, standard tow hitch receivers and balls, or business processes such as real estate listings, stock exchanges, or even recognition of driver's licences, marriage/birth certificates, or passports from other jurisdictions. A taxonomy of different contexts for interoperability would be a useful starting point, but this is likely to take years to develop consensus on. For computer systems and network contexts, interoperability is the ability for separate entities (e.g., devices, software programs, agents/users, institutions) to function usefully with each other inside that context for some set of purposes. While this might be viewed a binary condition in some circumstances, there is usually some aspect of degree associated with the concept of interoperability. So a particular device or program might be interoperable with others on a given computer, but only in specific ways and for specific functions/features. And the scope of the context in which they are interoperable may be constrained in various ways. For example, said program and devices might only work with specific operating systems or versions of the operating systems, or with only specific network protocols or versions of those protocols. And the purposes that the using agents or institutions have in mind will determine whether a given set of entities are "interoperable enough" to accomplish those purposes. While people often use the term interoperability or interoperable without specifying a purpose or context, they always have an implicit set of purposes and contexts in mind, whether conscious of these or not. It helps to be explicit about them if one wants some degree of assurance of interoperability among any given set of entities or some understanding of the degree of interoperability that can be expected for one's purposes.

Answer 3

Interoperability has different meanings for different contexts. A common context is within a particular computer system, such as a personal computer, or over a network connection (net-centric interoperability). Other contexts might involve physical connections such as mounting connections for cameras and strobe lights, standard tow hitch receivers and balls, or business processes such as real estate listings, stock exchanges, or even recognition of driver's licences, marriage/birth certificates, or passports from other jurisdictions. A taxonomy of different contexts for interoperability would be a useful starting point, but this is likely to take years to develop consensus on. For computer systems and network contexts, interoperability is the ability for separate entities (e.g., devices, software programs, agents/users, institutions) to function usefully with each other inside that context for some set of purposes. While this might be viewed a binary condition in some circumstances, there is usually some aspect of degree associated with the concept of interoperability. So a particular device or program might be interoperable with others on a given computer, but only in specific ways and for specific functions/features. And the scope of the context in which they are interoperable may be constrained in various ways. For example, said program and devices might only work with specific operating systems or versions of the operating systems, or with only specific network protocols or versions of those protocols. And the purposes that the using agents or institutions have in mind will determine whether a given set of entities are "interoperable enough" to accomplish those purposes. While people often use the term interoperability or interoperable without specifying a purpose or context, they always have an implicit set of purposes and contexts in mind, whether conscious of these or not. It helps to be explicit about them if one wants some degree of assurance of interoperability among any given set of entities or some understanding of the degree of interoperability that can be expected for one's purposes.