The difference between Web Authoring and
Programming has lost some distinction, with today's object oriented
WYSIWYG interfaced software in every programming language, script download
Sites and hosting companies providing
stuffed CGI bins.
For clarity we will continue in the more traditional deffinition of "Authoring"
and limit this discussion and links to the core HTML, XHTML, DHTML,
XML, CSS. and Jave
Script .
An important consideration up–front includes
useability and accessibility issues. It seems as though a strong current
is taking the future more and more toward Flash Sites. Everyone appears
to want
cutting edge drama in thier marketing media. In fact, several extreme
Flash Sites (usually Web Development Companies) are
ranked
very high
by GOOGLE and other search engines due to popularity (incoming links)
primarily. These companies seem to attract the deep pocketed major
clients when viewing thier portfolos. More about this topic on our
Future of the Internet Page.
Arguably, some Sites may not need degrees of "accessibility" that other
websites do. Accessibility and Usability considerations are mandated
by most governmental websites. For more information visit our Useability
and Accessibility Page.
IMPORTANT AUTHORING NEWS:
13 November 2003 –– The
United States Patent Office has agreed to review the "906" patent granted
EOLAS against prior art issues raised by a large number of industry
leaders and the World Wide Web Consortium. Review could take up to
one year, in which time the current ruling can be enforced.
29 October 2003 –– The World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C), the global standard–setting body for the Web, has presented
the United States Patent and Trademark Office with prior art establishing
that US Patent No. 5,838,906 (the "906 paten"t) is invalid and should
therefore be re–examined in order to eliminate this unjustified impediment
to the operation of the Web. The W3C is urging US Under Secretary of
Commerce for Intellectual Property James E. Rogan to initiate a re–examination
of the patent because the critical prior art was neither considered
at the time the patent was initially examined and granted, nor during
recent patent infringement litigation...
View
entire briefing
Stay updated on this important issue
HTML
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is a language
designed for presentation on the
World Wide Web. An author incorporates HTML markup in his or her document
to define the function of different elements. The latest version of HTML
is 4.01 as described by W3C.
HTML Version 4.01 will be the last
version of HTML. The Internet is migrating toward a more advanced language;
XHTML, (Extensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML™)). XHTML
is a family of current and future document types and modules that reproduce,
subset, and extend HTML, reformulated in XML. XHTML document
types are all XML–based, and are ultimately designed to work in conjunction
with XML–based user agents. XHTML is the successor of HTML, and a series
of specifications has been developed for XHTML. HTML 4.01 incorporates
many XHTML features and is considered to be the beginning of XHTML.
The migration to a
more advanced XML based Internet presentation language is direly
needed to advance productivity in the eBusiness and eCommerce sectors.
As
presentation
complexity
increases the resulting development time required for agreement on
terms and standards reccomendations and specifications
increase proportionately.
There have been many exlimperary failures
in the range of billions of dollars because industry had the need for
XML and XHTML standards
before they
were established by a regulatory agency. Many multi–million dollar
failures occurred because myoptic industry leaders thought that they
could force standards across all industry by pumping millions of
dollars into industry specific exchange endeavors and drive the lead
for standards.
Maybe Greenspan was right in shutting that down, they were way ahead
of themselves and everyone else with similar needs.
More Information about HTML
XHTML:
-
XHTML stands for; EXtensible HyperText
Markup Language
-
XHTML is in the process
of replacing HTML
-
XHTML is almost identical
to HTML 4.01
-
XHTML is a stricter and cleaner version of HTML
-
XHTML is is designed to
define HTML as an XML application
Major XHTML design and editing tools such as Macromedia
DreamWeaver and Mocrosoft FrontPage have
already migrated toward XML in their latest
software editions embrasing the newer standards. These new versions
accomodate e–commerce and e–business functions such as SQL and MySQL with
much more relative ease, as have most Hosting
Companies. Many hosting companies provide XHTML based applications
such as shopping carts and Databases as part of the hosting package in
a control panel, easily accessible and implementable by a web development
company.
More Information on XHTML
DHTML:
Acronym standing for "Dynamic HyperText
Markup Language". DHTML is an advanced
authoring method combining HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create dynamic
and interactive Web page features. A good
method to help captivate visitor interest by making your pages, navigation
and content interactive with the viewer.
More Information on DHTML
OTHER PAGES OF INTEREST:
Several internal and external links are
provided within this page's text for your convenience.
Definitions:
HTML
XHTML
DHTML
XML
Tutorials:
Free Tutorials
XHTML
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES:
XHTML:
W3C
– access XHTML subjects, tutorials & links. – You will
notice that their HTML & XHTML information page is the
same URL now.
Differences
between HTML 4.01 and XHTML – Know what is coming, a detailed
review of the code accomodations that you may need to start adapting,
even with top authoring tools.
The
W3C MarkUp Validation Service – Validate your XHTML with W3C
recommendations and other standards for free.
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