I very much appreciate your feedback, @george, and have spent the last few days considering how I might best answer your helpful questions.
Here’s a first try.
I see the opportunity to use the Web/Internet to automate all sorts of tasks. It is already being done to a very limited extent, for example, by companies that find the best deals for hotel rooms. But we cannot expect the IT sector to do all the work nor do anything without related financial gain. So to progress we need to involve those who are able to analyse and detail the diverse activities they are responsible for, so that they can identify what aspects of what might be automated; for example, guestroom > booking or guestroom > furnishing. I believe a not for profit like Mozilla could provide the means for anyone to create information that is computational (JSON machine), just as W3C provides the means for anyone to create the websites (HTML markup) that might carry it.
I also believe that this approach supports Mozilla’s Manifesto. I find the following particularly resonant:
The Internet is an integral part of modern life (reduction in paperwork type processes; interactive search and analysis of information of all types including products)
The Internet must enrich the lives of individual human beings. (less tedious activities; more opportunity/reward for creativity)
Individuals must have the ability to shape the Internet. (anyone can initiate new ways of working)
… depends upon interoperability (protocols, data formats, content), innovation and decentralized participation worldwide.
and,
… a balance between commercial profit and public benefit is critical (all elements related to computational information have intrinsic value)
I see the first tangible step as development of the JSON machine. I rather obsessed about demonstrating it before, but it is very simple for a coder to take over and remake professionally. It immediately opens new areas for exploration and experimentation (for example, generating 3D models with js libraries like Threejs ).
I look forward to further feedback. I will be happy when the reaction is “it was obvious anyway”.