The PICS Technical Specifications, version 1.1, have now been frozen and released. A number of organizations have announced PICS-compatible labeling services, server products for distributing labels, and client products for reading labels and selectively blocking access to materials. This workshop will serve two purposes:

1. June 20: Planning for future protocol development. The most important point of discussion will be whether and how to specify ways for clients to ask search engines to take into account their preferences. For example, clients may want to search for materials that are labeled as having high educational value. They may also want to search for pictures, but not to receive any links to pictures labeled as containing nudity. The existing specifications do not include any standard mechanisms for making such requests.
2. June 21: Interoperability testing. We will have some facilities available for running software, either locally or remotely, and comparing results. This will also be a chance to make personal contact with vendors from other companies in order to arrange partnerships and private interoperability testing.

We invite the major search and indexing services to send representatives on the first day, June 20. Alta Vista has already confirmed that it will send a representative and we expect that most of the other major players will do so as well. We invite PICS software developers to attend both days. Each organization may send up to two representatives: we recommend that at least one be a technical expert and that at least one be empowered to make decisions on behalf of your organization.

This is a working meeting. It will be closed to the media.

Please register by June 14. You may do so either by filling out the form at http://w3.org/PICS/PICSreg.html (starting Monday, June 3) or by sending a fax message with your name, address, email address, fax number, company name, telephone number, and which days you plan to attend to +1-(617)258-5999. Fax registration will be confirmed by email. There is no fee for attending these meetings, but registration may need to be limited.


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