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Class 2: Implementing hypertext: HTML, XML, and information structure

In the first part of this class we will briefly review the development of the World Wide Web, but our focus will be on HTML, in particular on the underlying concepts rather than on the syntax of the language. However, we will attempt to (i) understand how some of the concepts map onto HTML elements, (ii) in Activity 2, examine the different ways that HTML documents are produced - please download the MSWord file and the corresponding HTML document, and (iii) in collaborative Activity 3, produce basic linked documents in the class.

Activity 2

In the second part of the class, we draw together findings from the Activity in Class 1 (about the variety of link types that might be desired), together with a discussion of the inadequacies of HTML (and perhaps, in relation to its current www implementations). Taken together, these two areas lead us to consider XML: why it has been proposed, its basic concepts, some example documents and software.

Shortcomings of HTML

1. Presumes limited document types
2. Limited expressivity of tags
3. Not adaptable by users
4. Tags mix logical and formatting functions
5. Tag and document syntax too loose (from specification inherited from SGML, and from browser tolerance) - web as "knowledge base" is very weak
   • difficult to parse and standardise software
   • no local documentation of meaning of tags
6. Link mechanism too weak
   • can't link to part of a document
   • can't specify nature of link or how to implement or annotate it
   • can't preview link target
   • can't embed link target (except <img>)
   • can't link to more than 1 document
   • can't add a link to a document you don't control
7. Formatting options limited
8. Can't express generalised format across sets of documents (style sheets)

XML advantages

1. represent structured data (knowledge structures)
2. part of ISO standard - is archivable and will be supported (~~HTML)
3. authors can write own knowledge structures
4. can be written (and even read) without special software (=HTML)
5. strict syntax: easy to write parsers

How to create and view XML

1. Word processor (esp with macros and styles)
2. Spreadsheet (esp with formulas and macros)
3. MS XML Notepad
4. MSIE 5 browser
5. Specialised, eg Panorama
6. Other ...

For Credit students, for others optional: Activity 3

1. different genres of text (eg list, narrative/sequential)
2. different media (text, image, sound)
3. links between your own generated materials
4. links to other materials - eg already on the web, course resources (** use at least 1 of the resources provided for Activity 1)
5. links to the work of OTHER groups in this class

Reading items for this class

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