Benefits
This wish is a corner stone for computers usability. Many systems are now so complex to connect together, even if some great improvements have been made (thanks to USB), the plug and play is far to be generalized. The diversity of technologies, of protocols, of owners, of formats, of innovations, of connectivities, etc. makes the interoperability a frontier always not reachable.
To improve usability, the interoperability is a must. That is beginning at the lowest technologic layers (like the hardware connections) until the most commun rich artefacts (like the documents).
Benefits list :
- Immediate usability at any time and any where, because of PnP generalization.
- Accelerates the operations of users and machines.
- Uniformization of low level processes (connection, authentication, major artefacts or reporting for instance).
- Integrated and uniform extensibility mechanism (think about plug-in, add-ons, OSGI and the like).
- Decrease the complexity of usage.
- Decrease the complexity of the design and of integration.
Challenges
The challenges here are not first in technological or scientific difficulties, but to reach an agreement between the actors of our industry.
Therefore, for the purpose of this blog, it is not a concern. The adoption of ISA is not in my scope. ISA is about make the proof of what it is possible. The challenges for this blog is in establishing what is necessary and good to have in order to reach this first wish and all its benefits.
Nevertheless, it is important to avoid major pitfalls like strong coupling often brought by the peer to peer exchanges (at contrary of layered architectures).