Transcript Web: Staying Up-To-Date

Web: Staying Up-To-Date
Ian Graham
http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/
http://www.groveware.com/
Issues
1) Important new technologies (not tools)
2) How to stay up-to-date
Technology Count (Abbrev.)
1994
HTML
HTTP
CGI
URL
1998
HTML, HTTP, CGI,
URL,
MIME, S-MIME, MHTML, XML, CSS, XSL,
SSL, Java, Active-X,
CORBA, DCOM, d[D]HTML, SET, DOM,
LDAP, audio/video,
JavaScript, ...
Technology Predictions
CSS -- Cascading Style Sheets
Significantly improved control of page
formatting, layout
Not properly supported in Navigator 4 /
Internet Explorer 4
Expect good support in next versions
Importance -- Late summer, 1998
Technology Predictions
Dynamic HTML
Programmable control of page layout, by
letting a script control “flow” and structure.
Implemented very differently on Navigator 4
and Internet Explorer 4
“Standards-based” approach based on the
W3C’s Document Object Model (DOM)
Importance: fall/winter 1998
Technology Predictions
XML and XSL
New “customized” markup language, based
on SGML.
Wide adoption by software developers
(Netscape, Microsoft, others)
Initial use -- Microsoft “push” format,
structured document management
Importance -- now and growing; starting
with s/w developers.
Technology Predictions
M-HTML and S-MIME
Multimedia, secure mail messages containing
HTML documents and related content
(images, objects, etc.)
Mail-based alternative to “push” delivery.
Already implemented in Navigator 4 mail
client, widespread interest
Importance -- summer 1998, as more mail
clients implement M-HTML support.
Technology Predictions
Distributed Databases/Directories
Better search tools for finding Web
resources; “knowledge mining”
Directory services for distributing directory
information, such as the locations of
resources, people, etc.
Importance -- mostly within Intranets, some
general-purpose use,
Technology Predictions
Collaboration/Communication Tools
audio (RealAudio, etc.); video (Cu-See-Me,
realVideo, MBONE, etc.)
Internet relay chat (IRC), MOOs
shared whiteboards
Currently available; usefulness restricted by
processor speeds; bandwith
Importance -- awaits better software,
network speeds
How To Stay Up-To-Date
Magazines
Online publications
Friends/personal
networks
Problems
Hype -- most of the
reporting is uncritical,
Accuracy -- can you
believe it
Relevance -- not
related to your needs
Volume -- there’s so
much!
True of Almost All Information Sources
How to Stay Up-To-Date
Get support from management
Make technology “research” a part of a
job description
Attend industry or Government-sponsored
seminars workshops (e.g. ITRC/CITO)
Conferences like this one
Web: Staying Up-To-Date
Ian Graham
http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/
http://www.groveware.com/
[email protected]