Smart Tags or Dummy Tags (You Decide!)

By Charles E. Brown

What are they?
Many debates have been present in the PC/Web community ever since Microsoft® unveiled Microsoft® Office XP, which will contain new MS technology, "Smart Tags".

For those of you who don't know what Smart Tags are, here is an excerpt from the MS Web site:

Script Smart
by Andrew Clinick
Microsoft Corporation
May 15, 2001

"Microsoft® Office XP introduces a powerful new feature, smart tags, which allows Office applications and Microsoft® Internet Explorer to analyze the information that you are entering or viewing, and provide links to relevant information about the content." "In order to understand how to use smart tags, it's important to know how the system works. Smart tags can do two things: 1) recognize content that is sent to them, and 2) perform actions based on the content. The implementation of the "recognizer" and action is provided by a series of COM objects." 

Complete Article:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnclinic/html/scripting05142001.asp

It should be noted that Microsoft® announced they will not include Smart Tags in the initial release of Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6. MS has not declared that they are abandoning "Smart Tags". However, they have admitted that they can't have it ready in time for the release in October. Office XP already features "Smart Tags" and was released in June. Smart Tags are still scheduled to be included in a later release of Windows XP.

CNET Article:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6399150.html

Microsoft® always seems to surround itself with controversy, and the introduction of "Smart Tags" is no exception. The Web community is up-in-arms about too much control being taken by Software and Web ware industry leaders who seem to be guiding Web traffic around the Internet like virtual shepherds herding a lost flock.

The Debate
Most proficient Web users don't like the idea of Microsoft® entering this arena, it signifies to many that MS is trying to guide the Web user to select content that undoubtedly will favor the software giant. Many Web users fear this will make it more difficult for independent Web and content authors to get traffic when Microsoft® is guiding people to the "premium" sites and content sources at its own discretion.

Of Course, Microsoft® does not view it that way, after all, these are tags (like HTML tags); and taking advantage of the "Smart Tag" system is open to Web and content authors. "Smart Tags" will work in Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel, or IE.

According to Andrew Clinick,

"Smart tag lists provide a simple XML-based mechanism for defining a set of terms that smart tags will recognize without having to go to the trouble of implementing a complete COM component. All you need to do is create a list of terms in XML, and then create a list of actions to show whenever a term from the list is encountered. The Smart Tag list plug-in loads the XML definition whenever Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel, or IE are loaded, and ensures that whenever a term from the list is encountered in a document, a menu containing all the actions is shown. The great thing about this is that the actions can link to ASP pages with context about the term."

Web developers and Web content creators have a different view, they believe that these are "Dummy Tags" that needlessly guide Web traffic around the Internet. Although Web designers/developers disagree on how much control is too much control, it is a mostly a majority rule verdict that "Smart Tags" are stupid.

The idea is rather simple; now instead of Web site authors and developers deciding which words and phrases will become hyperlinks visitors can click on to get more information or visit other pages, Microsoft will start inserting links into pages where there were never intended to be links in the first place. Microsoft is going to decide where your links go.

Can you Turn Them Off?
Smart Links, which are also part of Office XP, are turned off by default, but that doesn't mean they'll stay off.

However, Web site authors can include a META tag on their pages (and it will have to appear on every page if you want every page protected from Redmond interference) to prevent Smart Tags from appearing."

Although "Smart Tags" are allegedly turned off by default in Office XP, Web authors/developers remember a time when Internet Explorer was not the default browser in the Windows operating system. Netscape Navigator, which shipped with earlier versions of Windows, did not have to compete with Microsoft in the browser market during that era, but we all know how that ended!

The Web has always been somewhat commercial but it is mostly user controlled. However, the Web is swiftly becoming more "dummied-down" and the control is shifting to industries. We have seen the communications industry storm in and form multi conglomerate juggernauts like AOL Time Warner.  Even Internet mergers like Yahoo Geocities suggests that nothing is immune to the "all-in-one" bacteria that will soon digest the virtual flesh of the Net. The real question is, will Web users simply rollover and fetch? Probably not!

Most of the push & pull technology that was used a couple of years ago, is antiquated by today's standards. As quick as industries introduce new technology to stifle Web freedom, Users graduate to higher levels of proficiency and find ways to circumvent technology meant to control them. The RIAA brought file sharing giant Napster to its knees, only to find an endless supply of Napster clones following in its footsteps! Smart tags, which have yet to actually become a problem, can already be disabled:

(<meta name="MSSmartTagsPreventParsing" content="TRUE"> )

This tag, used in the (<HEAD></HEAD>) section (along with other META TAGS) can be used to disable the "Smart Tag" feature of the Internet Explorer Browser (if and when MS releases the technology to it's browser). This tag must be run on EVERY PAGE that the Web designer/developer wants to disable "Smart Tags" on.

The Verdict
MS makes great application software; although their operating systems leave users desiring greater stability and security, the OSs are powerful and feature packed. Microsoft® isn't Satan, and in the end it's up to consumers to keep the control in their hands by not using the technology if they feel it's too invasive. Web developers must use whatever tools are available to defeat the technology or use it to their advantage. It's quite possible that many Web developers might exploit the "Smart Tags" to help generate traffic or commerce. That my friends is the greatest attribute the Web has to offer, we still have the freedom to choose!

About the Author:
Charles Brown is a freelance writer specializing in Internet and consumer related articles.  He is also a content writer for EWM / PSI (Everyone Working Mutually providing Products Services & Ideas).  Mr. Brown is also the author of a new series of eBooks that began publication in mid February, 2001.  "The Art of Complaining © 1998 Charles E. Brown" is a how-to on writing effective letters of complaint. "The Art of eShopping © 2000 Charles E. Brown" is a how-to on safe and efficient internet shopping.  

http://www.productsservicesideas.com