Glossary
Shared words create shared understanding.
The following terms define the vocabulary used throughout the openglacier initiative.
These definitions are intentionally technology-agnostic and remain valid regardless of implementation.
Agent
An autonomous software entity able to perform tasks, collaborate with other agents and interact with resources on behalf of an individual or an organization.
An agent assists.
It does not replace responsibility.
Automation
A predefined sequence of actions executed without continuous human intervention.
Automations remain observable, explainable and interruptible.
Capability
A function or service that a resource makes available to the ecosystem.
Capabilities describe what a resource can do, not how it does it.
Collaboration
The ability of multiple individuals, agents and resources to achieve a common objective through communication.
Communication
The exchange of information between individuals, organizations, devices, services and artificial intelligence.
Communication is the foundation upon which collaboration and intelligence emerge.
Connector
A software component responsible for connecting a resource to the ecosystem.
A connector translates external technologies into a common language understood by openglacier.
Core
The logical heart of the ecosystem.
It coordinates communication, identities, events and relationships between connected resources.
The Core defines behavior.
It does not define the user interface.
Digital Ecosystem
A coherent environment composed of individuals, organizations, devices, services, agents and resources collaborating through open communication.
Event
A meaningful change occurring within the ecosystem.
Events describe what happened.
They never describe what should happen.
Gateway
The secure communication layer connecting distributed parts of the ecosystem.
Gateways allow ecosystems to communicate while preserving security, privacy and sovereignty.
Hub
The primary workspace through which individuals interact with their digital ecosystem.
The Hub visualizes the ecosystem.
It does not own it.
Identity
A trusted representation of an individual, organization, service or machine.
An identity defines who participates in the ecosystem.
Individual
Any autonomous participant within the ecosystem.
An individual may be a human, an organization, an artificial intelligence or any other entity capable of interacting responsibly.
Initiative
The collective effort behind openglacier.
An initiative is larger than a software project.
It represents shared principles, values and long-term goals.
Mission
A coordinated objective involving one or more individuals, agents and resources.
A mission produces outcomes.
It is not a conversation.
It is not a workflow.
It is purposeful work.
Object
A visible representation of an entity within the workspace.
Every object has:
- an identity
- a state
- capabilities
- relationships
- events
- actions
Objects are the fundamental building blocks of the workspace.
Organization
A group of individuals collaborating toward common objectives.
Organizations participate in the ecosystem as first-class entities.
Resource
Any connected entity providing one or more capabilities.
Examples include:
- devices
- storage systems
- software
- online services
- artificial intelligence
- sensors
- infrastructure
Resources are connected.
They are not owned by openglacier.
Sovereignty
The ability of individuals and organizations to understand, control and evolve their own digital ecosystem.
Sovereignty begins with transparency.
Standard
A publicly defined specification created for the common interest.
Open standards promote interoperability, longevity and trust.
Storage
A resource responsible for preserving information.
A storage system remains a resource like any other.
Transparency
The ability to observe, understand and explain the behavior of a system.
Transparency creates trust.
Trust
Confidence earned through transparency, consistency and openness.
Trust can never be assumed.
It must always be earned.
Workspace
The coherent environment through which an individual observes and interacts with the ecosystem.
A workspace is composed of living objects rather than isolated pages.