TAG Nominee Statement

I aspire to help the W3C Technical Architecture Group (TAG) shape the web's technical direction, leveraging my deep understanding and practical application of architecture principles in implementation and specification development. The challenges that the web must address are those of society: how can we ensure the systems we design are contributing to democratising access to information and actively combating misinformation? How do we put safeguards in place to make sure the technology we build and promote is sustainable and based on human needs, not contributing to threats such as climate change and the erosion of democracy? What would a "Volume Two" of the Architecture of the World Wide Web look like now?

In 1994, I discovered I could access my hometown's FreeNet using Lynx. I needed my parents' signature, which I eagerly got. It unlocked an endless library of knowledge and allowed me to connect with people in ways I had never imagined. It felt like entire worlds had opened up before me. Since then, I've had the privilege of collaborating with individuals, communities, and organisations from diverse backgrounds, giving me a broad perspective on the web's role in society.

Early experiences with web technologies shaped how I see the world, and I'm deeply committed to ensuring the web evolves as a positive force, both as a sound technical platform and as a social machine. Since 2006, I've contributed to standards bodies and communities like WHATWG, W3C, IETF, and microformats, working across various perspectives and processes to understand the web's diverse and evolving needs.

My journey began with HTML5, and expanded through projects like StatusNet, deepening in W3C's various groups. I've served in multiple roles, including Advisory Committee (AC) Representative, Member representative, Invited Expert, and chair of a Community Group.

These contributions instilled in me a belief in implementation-driven specification development. I'm eager to contribute this perspective to TAG's ongoing efforts to shape the web's long-term impact. My experience balancing technical rigour with practical implementation gives me a valuable perspective for contributing to TAG's direction.

I have been an active participant in the Web Annotations, Social Web, and Government Linked Data Working Groups, particularly as an editor of the Linked Data Notifications and Embedding Web Annotations in HTML specifications. I have also contributed to various specifications, including HTTP Message Signatures, RDF Data Cube vocabulary, ActivityPub, Activity Vocabulary, Best Practices for Publishing Linked Data, and WebID-TLS.

I chaired the Solid Community Group for 4 years, with a track record of fairness, prioritising community needs and building consensus around often conflicting interests. I contributed directly to the group as lead editor and author of key documents, including the Solid Protocol, Web Access Control, and Solid QA, among others, which were instrumental in chartering the Linked Web Storage Working Group.

I am also an active open source implementer, using what I make based on web standards, and use this experience to inform the standards process. This was a core part of my PhD research which explores how open web technologies can be used to create a fully functional ecosystem for research communication, emphasising practical implementation and engagement with standards.

Technical standards embody the values and qualities that matter to individuals, making it crucial that the web standards community respond to societal challenges responsibly. If elected, I intend to dedicate my efforts to contributing to addressing the most pressing issues that society is facing, which are reflected and amplified on the web as a means to connecting to one another and our communities. This includes contributing to the continued development of existing works, such as Ethical Web Principles, and Societal Impact self-review questionnaire, and exploring potential new findings in efforts towards keeping the web decentralised and accessible to all.

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I am honoured and humbled by Manu Sporny, the AC representative of Digital Bazaar, for nominating me to stand in the 2024 election for the TAG. If you're an AC representative, you can vote. Please consider ranking me favourably!

More details about the TAG commitment

I, Sarven Capadisli, affirm that I am the person identified at my W3C account, and that the contact information contained in my W3C account record is complete and accurate at this time.

I am not an employee of a W3C Member. I have read and agree to the terms of the Invited Expert and collaborators agreement.

I agree to participate according to the role, composition and other aspects of the TAG described in the W3C Process Document.

I agree to participate in the TAG under the terms of the W3C Patent Policy as an Invited Expert in the TAG.

As a nominee of or appointee to the TAG, I am not an employee of a Member organization and I vouch that I have the necessary financial support for my participation in the TAG.