1

Neal Hannon and Saeed RoohaniXBRL Educational Resource Center

At Bryant College

XBRL Education Co-ChairE-Mail: xbrl@bryant.edu

Phone: 401.232.6195

The Next Technology RevolutionThe Next Technology RevolutionXML XBRLXML XBRL

Rhode Island Society of Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Certified Public

AccountantsAccountants

May 17, 2001May 17, 2001

2

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives• Overview of XML & XBRL

• Show you how this technology makes doing E-Business:

– Faster

– Cheaper

– Better

• Conclusion

3

Find the best solution to connect the nine points

together with no more than four straight lines

without lifting your writing instrument.

Whatassumptions

are you making?

If you do not assume that you cannot extend your

lines beyond the imaginary square formed by the

box the puzzle becomes easier to solve.

Henry Dudeney was born 144 years ago – 10th April 1857

Dudeney is best known for his publications of mathematical problems and pastimes,

some of which provoked serious mathematical research

7

“Everything “that can be invented “has been invented.”

Charles H. DuellCommissioner of U.S. Office of Patents,

urging President William McKinley to abolish his office, 1899

8

Don’t assume that the lines must pass

through the center of the dots.

9

Don’t assume that the line

must be thin.

10

Just to prove I can do it with two lines.

11

Don’t assume that the paper must be flat.

12

If you rip the paper into nine segments,

you can stack them

and poke your point through all at once.

13

Don’t assume that you cannot

crease the paper.

14

Don’t assume that

the lines cannot extend beyond

the edge of the paper.

15

Don’t assume that you Don’t assume that you

cannot cannot

riprip the paper. the paper.

16 From Evansville Courier and Press

Is There A Problem?

17

Let’s move up the Value Let’s move up the Value ChainChain

Transactions Data Information Knowledge Decisions

Transactions Data Information Knowledge Decisions

Transactions Data Information Knowledge Decisions

Transactions Data Information Knowledge Decisions

18

Searching for the word “Mercury” on the Web can provide search results such as--

Hg

Content—without Context

19

• 47, 000+ hits, No Help

20

Evolution to WEvolution to Webeb Services Services

TechnologyInn

ova

tio

n

FTP, E-Mail,Gopher

Web Pages

Web Services

TCP/IP HTML XML

Connectivity

Presentation

Automation

Browse the Web

Program the Web

Text Files

21

XMLXMLXML stands for:

eXtensible

Markup

Language

Universally accepted method of exchanging information

22

eXtensible Markup LanguageeXtensible Markup Language

• ……is a meta markup language the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) considers a universal standard for describing both structured data and the behavior of applications that process the language.

23

What Is XML?What Is XML?

• “XML is aplatform-independent,

self-describing,

expandable,

standard data exchange format

24

XML is Platform IndependentXML is Platform Independent

• Windows

• Unix

• Macintosh

• Mainframe

• Linux

25

XML is Self-DescribingXML is Self-Describing

• Example:– <DATE>July 26, 1998</DATE>

• Describes the information, not the presentation

• Format neutral

26

XML is ExpandableXML is Expandable

• Whereas HTML has a fixed set of tags– <H1>, <B>, <PRE>

• XML lets you create your own tags– <sugary-substance>– <Shakespearean-character>– <cash-equivalent>

27

How does it work?How does it work?• XML gives meaning to information through

the use of tags

<Customer> <Name>Saeed Roohani</Name> <Company>Bryant College<Company> <Title>Chair, Accounting</Title> <Age>29</Age></Customer>

Caution.. …Just because something is <tagged>.. Does not mean it is accurate?

28

XMLDocument

XMLDocument

Core Schema

Core Schema

Company Specific

Vocabulary

Company Specific

Vocabulary

Industry Specific Vocabularies

Industry Specific Vocabularies

Transformation

Tools

Transformation

Tools

The XML PuzzleThe XML Puzzle

29

How XML WorksHow XML Works

Improves the way companies -- and applications -- share information Enjoys strong industry and vendor support

How XML Works

30

What is ‘XML’?What is ‘XML’?• What XML is NotNot

– NotNot a religion.– NotNot the solution to all world problems.– NotNot a solution for all electronic commerce

problems.– NotNot a solution to all legal-technology

problems.

• XML is a ToolTool– XML is a Really Cool (Powerful) Tool!Really Cool (Powerful) Tool!– Like all tools, XML can be used wisely and XML can be used wisely and

unwisely.unwisely.

31

Why is XML so Important?Why is XML so Important?• Portable• Vendor neutral• Readable data format• More flexible and easier to use than EDI• All major software products are becoming

“XML” enabled• Defacto standards for data exchange• Enabling new levels of interoperability

32

XMLXML• Widely expected to reduce cost of

publishing to the Net by as much as 50%.

• And by next year …

Gartner Group prediction

70% of all B2B transactions executed on the Web will be done using XML.

33

Who defines the tags?Who defines the tags?• Tags are defined by industry consortiums • Each industry’s standard tags are commonly

referred to as a taxonomy

34

Astronomy

Aerospace

Music Industry

Publishing or Mythology

Chemical Industry

Auto Industry

<RECORD-LABEL>

<PROGRAM>

<PLANET>

<GOD>

<SYMBOL>

<CAR-MODEL>

“Content in Context” (Industry-specific)

35

Who’s Building Taxonomies? Who’s Building Taxonomies?

Accounting Advertising Architecture

Automotive Banking Communication

Economics Education E-Commerce

EDI ERP Financial

Healthcare HR Insurance

Legal Music News

Publishing Real Estate Retail

Science Software Supply Chain