Standards-based content resources: a prerequisite for content integration and content interoperability

Standardized content repositories (and content repositories based on international standards) for structured content are becoming increasingly important for ICT-assisted communication among users, between users and their devices, and among these devices. Given the increasing ubiquity and pervasiveness of ICTs - especially in the communication with and around people with disabilities - it should be assured that ICTs are accessible and inclusive and that they and the standards-compliant data models used facilitate content interoperability. If not, remedial or additional programming may become necessary, which tend to be very costly or even impossible at times. Content interoperability (of structured content) as defined in this article also means - especially if the content itself is collectively developed and maintained on the basis of international standards - that effective methods and efficient tools can be conceived for verification, validation and certification.