The term "open standards" has been mis-used and abused by both vendors and users and it is sometimes confused with open source. In this presentation we will look at what constitutes an open standard and how the definition can vary with different organisations and environment. The benefits of open standards are highlighted and examples are given to show that FOSS and open standards, although different, can affect and complement each another. The need for a truly open standard for office documents is discussed next and the presentation will close with a look at some important IT standards pertaining to the healthcare industry. - Nah Soo Hoe - Maylasia