obsolete_observation true A statement describing something that was observed or recorded. In SEPIO, a high-level distinction is made between Statements that are 'Observations' vs 'Assertions'. Observations are statements that report what is observed, and are inherently true in the sense that they reflect an agents particular experience. Assertions are statements that derive from some degree of interpretation or inference based on the evaluation of 'evidence'. This distinction is important because the ultimate truth of observations or findings do not depend on evidence in the same way that the truth of assertions does. Accordingly, any data related to an observation is not treated as evidence, and captured as observations. An observation reflects only what an agent observed or device recorded. It is therefore considered a matter of fact, rather than a propositional assertion that may or may not be true. This does not mean that the observations or recordings were necessarily accurate or correct - only that they were indeed made by an agent. For example, the observation that "I counted six ducks in the pond" is a matter of fact, even if there are actually seven because I missed one that was hiding in the reeds.