Imaging standards are important for the use of imaging in document management or workflow applications. Video conferencing standards are essential to ensure that all Commonwealth agencies who are interested in video conferencing will be able to communicate with other agencies employing this technology. The Commonwealth has already built a significant video conferencing capability. This provides a standard for future growth. Standards for application development tools are important to ensure a strong skill base among information technology professionals, a standard look and feel for applications, and the necessary set of skills for long term system maintenance.
Data definitions are critical to the sharing of data between systems.
Without standard data definitions it is difficult, to impossible, to combine data from multiple systems or databases. A Commonwealth wide data dictionary with common definitions for data elements that are likely to be shared across multiple applications or systems should be developed and maintained. Data common values are critical in order to share data across departments, agencies and systems. This is a more detailed standard than the data definition standard. The Commonwealth currently has standards in some areas and recommendations or suggestions in additional areas.