Easy to Use Global Standard Semantic Information Blocks

There now exists a global standard digital semantic information block that is easy for the average business professional to use.  But don't take my word for it.  Watch this short video, DEMO: Editing Multidimensional Logical Model, which demonstrates how easy these global standard information blocks are to use.

Here is one example of a such an information block. What you see below is a multidimensional roll forward information pattern.

For additional examples of information blocks see this showcase of reports which shows the many different information patterns that are supported, how information blocks can be combined to form reports of different kinds including financial statements, and so forth.

Think "pivot table" or "cubes" of data.  But these pivot tables or cubes are (a) readable and understandable to both humans and machines (b) are built to be shared over the Internet.  Here are some of the features of the global standard digital semantic information blocks:

• Represented using the global standard technical syntax XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language).
• Semantics follow standard business report semantics of XBRL-based reports, the Seattle Method, and OMG's forthcoming Standard Business Report Model (SBRM) logical conceptualization of a business report. (Also see the XBRL Abstract Model 2.0)
• Uses a global standard multidimensional model which supports n-dimensional hypercubes. (The multidimensional model is not limited to OLAP.
• The hypercube models and the underlying facts are are editable and exchangeable.  Hypercubes are editable (i.e. extensible, customizable) by business professionals.
• Hypercubes support common mathematical computational patterns such as roll ups, roll forwards, restatements due to errors, variances between different reporting scenarios. (i.e. not limited to only roll ups like OLAP).
• Rules are declarative and separated from the data itself.
• Hypercubes can be related to other hypercubes.
• Hypercubes supports both numeric and textual information equally well.
• Semantic oriented as contrast to being presentation oriented (i.e. workbooks, sheets, rows, columns, and cells).
• Unicode.

The law of conservation of complexity states that complexity cannot be removed from a system…but complexity can be moved.  Basically, every software application has an inherent amount of irreducible complexity. The question is: Who will have to deal with that complexity:  the software user, the application developer, or the platform developer?

Irreducible complexity is explained as follows: A single system which is composed of several interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, and where the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning.

So for example, consider a simple mechanism such as a mousetrap.  That mousetrap is composed of several different parts each of which is essential to the proper functioning of the mousetrap: a flat wooden base, a spring, a horizontal bar, a catch bar, the catch, and staples that hold the parts to the wooden base.  If you have all the parts and the parts are assembled together properly, the mousetrap works as it was designed to work. But say you remove one of the parts of the mousetrap.  The mousetrap will no longer function as it was designed, it will not work.  That is irreducible complexity: the complexity of the design requires that it can't be reduced any farther without losing functionality.

Anyone can create something that is complex.  But it is hard work to create something that is simple. Something that is elegant.

For more information:

• Cell stores
• Data Cubes (Video)