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Past Project

Interoperability

In early June 2012, Urs Gasser and John Palfrey released Interoperability: The Promise and Perils of Highly Interconnected Systems. The book is inspired by their 2005 study and paper—“Breaking Down Digital Barriers: When and How Information and ICT Interoperability Drives Innovation”—which examined the relationship between interoperability and innovation in the ICT environment. The book builds a theory of interoperability, and then illustrates how that theory works and why interoperability is relevant for consumers, companies, governments, and the public. In addition to writing the book, the authors developed a series of case studies that focus on lessons learned from sectors where interoperability is critical, such as transportation, currency markets, and energy. Each case study explores the roles of law, policy, technology, market forces (e.g., innovation and economic incentives), and stakeholders, and how each of these can drive or inhibit interoperability.


Our Work 32

Publication
Jul 6, 2015

Interoperability in the Digital Ecosystem

The Berkman Center is pleased to announce the publication of a new paper, "Interoperability in the Digital Ecosystem." The paper builds upon our previous interoperability work,…

Publication
Aug 15, 2013

Interoperability Case Study: From Crowdsourcing Potholes to Community Policing

Applying Interoperability Theory to Analyze the Expansion of “Open311”

Following the four primary applications of interoperability theory laid out by Palfrey and Gasser, this paper is organized into five Parts: (1) Part One introduces the topic; (2)…

Publication
Jun 23, 2013

Interoperability Case Study: The European Union as an Institutional Design for Legal Interoperability

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

Publication
Dec 13, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

Publication
Sep 12, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: Mobile Phone Chargers

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

Publication
Aug 16, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: Cloud Computing

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser - Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

Publication
Jul 15, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: The Bar Code/UPC

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

Publication
Jul 8, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: The Smart Grid

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

News
Jun 14, 2012

RB204: The Art and Science of Working Together

Friends of the show John Palfrey and Urs Gasser speak with David Weinberger about how Interoperability works, and how interoperable systems can lead to greater innovation, greater…

Jun 6, 2012

Recap & Video from the Launch of "Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly Interconnected Systems"

Last Wednesday, we were proud to host the launch of John Palfrey and Urs Gasser's latest publication, Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly Interconnected Systems, along with…

Publication
Jun 5, 2012

Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly Interconnected Systems

In Interop, technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser explore the immense importance of interoperability—the standardization and integration of technology—and show how this…

Publication
May 31, 2012

Interoperability in Information Systems in the Furtherance of Trade

Urs Gasser and John Palfrey have continued to contribute to the World Trade Institute’s NCCR Trade Policy project with a particular focus on the interoperability as an enabler of…

Publication
May 31, 2012

Fostering Innovation and Trade in the Global Information Society: The Different Facets and Roles of Interoperability

Urs Gasser and John Palfrey have continued to contribute to the World Trade Institute’s NCCR Trade Policy project with a particular focus on the interoperability as an enabler of…

Publication
May 31, 2012

Mapping Cloud Interoperability in the Globalized Economy: Theory and Observation from Practice

Urs Gasser and John Palfrey have continued to contribute to the World Trade Institute’s NCCR Trade Policy project with a particular focus on the interoperability as an enabler of…

Event
May 30, 2012 @ 6:00 PM

Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly Interconnected Systems

John Palfrey and Urs Gasser

John Palfrey and Urs Gasser discussed their new book on Interoperability book and its themes.

Publication
Mar 31, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: Internet of Things (IoT)

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

Publication
Mar 1, 2012

Interoperability Case Study: Intermodal Containers and Global Cargo Transport

This case study is part of an ongoing series developed in support of a larger text on interoperability by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Interop: The Promise and Perils of Highly…

News
Oct 21, 2011

Digital Public Library of America and Europeana Announce Collaboration

Two major digital library networks have reached an agreement to collaborate in ways that will make a large part of the world’s cultural heritage available to a large part of the…

May 16, 2011 @ 9:00 AM

Global Interoperability and Linked Data Workshop

On May 16-17, 2011, the Berkman Center together with Open Knowledge Commons and the Institute for Information Law at the University of Amsterdam convened a group of technical and…

Event
Nov 16, 2007 @ 12:48 AM

Breaking Down Digital Barriers

John Palfrey and Urs Gasser Present New Research on Interoperability

This joint report followed the Roadmap to Open ICT Ecosystems released in 2005, as it navigates the nuanced territory of consumer, corporate, and governmental interests in the…

News
Nov 16, 2007

Research Release on Interoperability

This week the Berkman Center and the Research Center for Information Law, St.

Publication
Oct 31, 2007

Breaking Down Digital Barriers: When and How ICT Interoperability Drives Innovation

In this study, we have done a deep-dive on three cases - DRM-protected music, Digital ID, and Mashups in the Web services context - as well as cursory reviews of other narratives…

Oct 31, 2007

Case Study: DRM-Protected Music Interoperability and eInnovation

This report – representing one of three case studies that are part of a transatlantic research project aimed at exploring the potential relation between ICT Interoperability and…

Publication
Oct 31, 2007

Case Study: Digital Identity Interoperability and eInnovation

This paper, one of three case studies in a transatlantic research project exploring the connection between Information and Communication Technology interoperability and…

News
Jun 29, 2007

Second Berkman/St. Gallen Workshop on ICT Interoperability

From Berkman Fellow Urs Gasser...[Earlier this week], I had the pleasure to co-moderate with my colleagues and friends Prof.

Mar 8, 2007 @ 1:22 AM

Innovation, Interoperability, and IP

Brad Smith, General Counsel of Microsoft

General Counsel of Microsoft, Brad Smith, discussed ", Interoperability, and IP"

Publication
Jan 31, 2007

Interoperability In the New Digital Identity Infrastructure

This paper maps out multiple dimensions of interoperability in the emerging digital identity management infrastructure, with a view to promoting openness in this infrastructure…

Jan 26, 2007

Interop and Innovation

Last week, as part of the project on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Interoperability, a field of experts gathered in Weissbaden, Switzerland for a workshop hosted…

Nov 8, 2006

Urs Gasser speaks before the FTC on Interoperability

Berkman fellow Urs Gasser spoke at today's Federal Trade Commission's hearings on Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade. Speaking as the event's "European voice," Urs…

News
Jun 23, 2006

Digital Rights Management in France

Referring to the DADVSI bill amending the French copyright act, BBC reports that “Apple gets French iTunes reprieve.” One of many previous versions of the bill had ruled that…

News
Oct 28, 2005

MA and "Open Standards and Interoperability"

Yesterday, the Berkman Center for Internet & Society hosted a two-hour discussion session on Open Standards and Interoperability.  Our discussion was meant to be an extension of…


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