So this is one area where scientific data may be different from other kinds of digital objects.  For a lot of science data, the correct entry to any "hardware/software combinations supporting use of the object" question should be any or all.  I'm not saying that that is the case in reality, but for scientific data anyone (ok, anyone in the designated community) at any time using any system should be able to be read and use the object.  That often means that you need to be programming literate in at least one language, though any language will do.

However, of more concern for science is the question of how were the data created (it's provenance and context).  This is needed for reproducibility and it does include the hardware and software combinations used to create the object (along with a whole host of other stuff).  This is a core tenet of the scientific process.  

The question in my mind, is whether that belongs in PREMIS or in some other part of the metadata.  It is a core part of the OAIS provenance and context for the object and PREMIS was based on OAIS and is supposed to contain the preservation metadata for the object, but a lot of discipline specific metadata standards (e.g., ISO 19115) have places to put this kind of information.

Don't know if any of this helps...

Ruth

On May 20, 2011, at 11:37 AM, Priscilla Caplan wrote:

> I don't think there is a longer version of the environmentPurpose vocabulary, but no reason why there could not be.  However, I don' t think environmentPurpose would apply to the environment in which an object was created. The definition of "environment" is "Hardware/software combinations supporting use of the object."  I'm not sure creation could be considered a use.
> 
> On the other hand (thinking out loud), presumably any given object was created as a single event by only a single hardware/software configuration.  If one wanted to record all of the possible hardware/software combinations that could have created the object, then one would have to put that in environment, which allows multiples for the same purpose.
> 
> It's an interesting question.  Are there other thoughts out there?
> 
> Priscilla Caplan
> FCLA
> 
> On 5/16/2011 10:02 AM, David Rice wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> Is there a longer version of the environmentPurpose vocabulary list? The data dictionary includes two terms: "render" and "edit". Also both of these terms relate to future use of the object, is it good practice to use environment to describe past environments of the object? Such as the environment in which the object was originally created (or would the event entity be preferred for information that pertains to the object's creation)?
>> Best Regards,
>> Dave Rice
>> 



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"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

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Ruth Duerr
Data Stewardship Program Lead
National Snow and Ice Data Center
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO 80309
(303) 735-0136
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