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Published

table

vr.tr.table · thing-table

Let an agent handle data tables by structure, headers, units, sources and accessibility, and read or produce them accurately.

Thing Registry Society, people and institutions SOC.ORG
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Structure Rows, columns, headers.

Headers

Column and row labels.

Headers

Headers and units.

  1. What are the column headers and units? definition
  2. Are row labels clear? boundary

Shape

Size.

Shape

Dimensions.

  1. How many rows and columns? measurement
  2. Are there merged cells? boundary
Content Data and source.

Source

Origin and date.

Source

Data source.

  1. Where does the data come from, and when? provenance
  2. Is it the latest version? boundary

Quality

Validation.

Quality

Data checks.

  1. Are totals and values consistent? measurement
  2. Are there missing values? boundary
Use Reading and analysis.

Reading

Interpretation.

Interpretation

How to read it.

  1. What does the table show? definition
  2. What caveats apply? boundary

Query

Database use.

Query

Querying.

  1. How can the table be queried? action
  2. What keys identify rows? definition
Accessibility For everyone.

Markup

Header markup.

Markup

Accessible markup.

  1. Are headers marked up for screen readers? boundary
  2. Is there a caption? boundary

Format

Machine-readable.

Format

Format.

  1. Is it available in a machine-readable format? boundary
  2. Such as CSV? definition

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Society, people and institutions
Entry kind
noun.group
Plane
SOC
Domain
SOC.ORG
Facets: substance
social
Facets: origin
conceptual
Facets: agency
inert
Facets: mobility
not-applicable
Facets: scale
not-applicable
Facets: affordances
observable
Other names and narrower kinds
correlation table, tabular array, actuarial table, statistical table, mortality table, calendar, perpetual calendar, file allocation table, periodic table, pocket planner, wallet calendar, pocket calendar

What it is Filled

A set of data arranged in rows and columns, such as a statistical, actuarial or mortality table, a spreadsheet or a database table.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle data tables by structure, headers, units, sources and accessibility, and read or produce them accurately.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Rows and columns with headers
  • Cells hold values with units
  • Source and date must be stated
  • Accessible tables need proper markup

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Alter values in a table to change a conclusion.
  • Join tables in a way that re-identifies people in anonymised data.
  • Apply an outdated actuarial or mortality table without saying so.
  • Overwrite or delete a shared table without a backup.

Only with a human decision

  • Deleting or restructuring a table that other systems depend on.

May

  • Build, validate and query tables in data the agent is authorized to use.
  • Cite a table's source, date and definitions when quoting it.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Tables of data decide insurance, credit and benefits.
  • Personal data in tables must stay private.

Who is affected

  • People described in the data
  • Users of the data
  • Data owners

Owners Filled

Steward

The owner of the dataset that contains it.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • oewn-07955622-n - registry parent class

contains

  • data - values

related

  • document part - structure
  • table as furniture or landform - homonyms
  • database - storage

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.table
  • Open English WordNet: oewn-08283156-n
  • dataset DOI or table id: publisher-specific statistical tables

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

Not applicable

Plane SOC: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Grid of rows and columns
  • Header rows and units
  • Furniture table and tableland are different entries
  • Rows and columns with headers, in documents, spreadsheets or databases.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • create and format it
  • read and query it
  • validate its data
  • make it accessible

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Missing units or sources
  • Misaligned columns
  • Inaccessible tables for screen readers
  • Copy errors

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • WCAG table accessibility
  • Official statistics presentation guidance
  • SQL standard for database tables

Context of use required Filled

  • Organising and presenting data for reading and analysis.
  • statistical tables
  • actuarial and mortality tables
  • spreadsheets
  • database tables
  • calendars as tables of days

Sources Filled

  1. Open English WordNet 2024, synset oewn-08283156-n - sense and gloss of the concept
  2. Wiktionary: table - word senses and usage

Open questions

  • Should table types be separate entries?
  • How should table metadata be recorded?
  • How should the homonyms be disambiguated?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-table/spec.json