Attention Profiling Mark-up Language (APML) is a new standard that is being worked on to convert the rought foundation about personal attention profile into agreed standard.

According to the site, APML will allows users to export and use their own personal Attention Profile in much the same way that OPML alows them to export their reading lists from feedreaders.

The idea is to boil down all forms of Attention Data — including Browser History, OPML, Attention.XML, Email etc — to a portable file format containing a description of ranked user interests.

The user of this in real-life applications will be endless, but for now here are some examples:

• Keep control of your own Attention Profile
• Ask Amazon to export an APML file of your Attention Profile (the same one they use to recommend books to you) so you can move to another bookstore (just like OPML lets you easily switch feed readers).
• Upload your APML file to Digg to get a customized view of Digg stories that match your interests.
• Use your APML to filter incoming alerts
• Submit your APML to an Attention Brokerage service to allow synchronized access to your Attention Profile across all APML compatible services. In this way all your sites and services can keep track of your changing interests.

This standard will not compete with AttentionTrust’s service, and it is interesting where this project will go.

[APML]