Field, attempt.
It is the large difficulty of this study, but also a great intellectual interest.
Indeed, which handles information? Everyone. Considering the cost of deployment of this technology, it is rather reserved at large documentary volume. Although one will see later that it isn't so true.
We have applications as different aeronautical technical documentation (historical market) the car manufacturers, insurance companies, banks, all the sectors are concerned... does CIA work with SGML? It won't surprise me. New applications appears every days.
Actors. They are disparate and still very few (see my comment SGML OPEN HOUSE association). Main Actors of the SGML are there.
Insider trading.
Professionnalisation of structuring information does not have only advantages. Moreover the market is rather immature. The available tools on the market allowing to compose in SGML are generally not stable and matured (will no give any names...) when those editors disappears purely and simply (no names either). For the companies which have based their strategic information on these tools it is not a good news (still no names...). Moreover real SGML expert's are happy few (specially in France). It is to say that SGML specialist have not to be expert only in SGML Language, but also in a specifically technical field like Aeronautical standards, Automotive standards...Most of time they are Aeronautical ore automotive engineers who learned this specific Language. This explained why they are so happy few.According to me this situation will continue as long as SGML implementation will remain so difficult. Strategic information Systems can only be developed by people who closely knows your business and its related standards.
Two solutions :
SGML specialist learn your business before implementing SGML (very expensive and hazardous and expensive, nobody knows s.o. job's except himself
Downsizing . dedicated SGML's tools appears allowing companies to themselves their own application.
Downsizing. On the other hand what appears clearly, it is the current interest of the (French) industrials for SGML. Considering SGML allows to structure, safe, and available strategic documentation data bases it is clear that companies, the most powerful administrations, most competitive one's, watch closely (at least) last SGML Development throughout an intensive business intelligence.
French specialized press almost don't say anything on it. You have to watch for the grey litterature like confidential letter or ADBS report for example.
Nevertheless we attend a real Downsizing movement owing mainly American companies who understood clearly what user's needs. Companies like FILENET, AIS, JOUVE market packaged powerful, reliable and hardly user friendly solutions, meeting most mid-size business needs requirements.
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