[LINK] The App is Dead (OK Not Really, But The Browser Is Back)

[Tom Worthington]

On 14/05/12 09:34, jim birch wrote:
> http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the-app-is-dead-ok-not-really-but-the-browser-is-back.php
>
> *"But with the rise of HTML5, the next generation of the Web's markup
> language HTML, the attractiveness and functionality of mobile websites has
> gotten richer and more interactive ...

Yes. I was telling CISCO recently that HTML5 was a better idea for 
e-Learning than Apps: 
http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/green_unified_communications/

---
USE FLEXIBLE FORMATS NOT APPS FOR MOBILE DEVICES

Use simple formats, layout and labels:

* Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
* Test tools such as W3C mobileOK Checker and TAW

Rather than create content specifically for mobile devices using "Apps", 
course content can be prepared using Web Content Accessibility 
Guidelines so that it will work in a wide range of contexts: : 
http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/
Test tools such as the W3C mobileOK Checker < 
http://validator.w3.org/mobile/ > and TAW < 
http://www.tawdis.net/ingles.html > are also available to quickly check 
content.

Much of this involves avoiding complex formatting, using simple layout 
and labels. As an example, use a template to consistently set headings 
and fonts. Put captions on images. Lay out content with what the student 
need to know first, first. Use the same labels consistently throughout 
the course. If colours or icons are used, remember that not everyone can 
see them. ...


UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS NEEDED FOR EDUCATION

* Combine real-time and store and forward tools.

* Students can chew gum and walk (or video-conference and blog) at the 
same time

* HTML5 Video and Video-tweets may help

* We need better tools for unified communications, but don't forget the 
phone

Teachers currently have too modal an approach to using educational tools 
and techniques. One tool, the Learning Management System, is used for 
one part of teaching and the video conference/webinar for another. There 
is no need to confine an educational activity to one tool or mode. 
Students can use multiple tools for multiple channels of learning 
simultaneously.

Learning management systems, such as Moodle, can be used in 
near-real-time, during a video conference. But better tools are needed 
to integrate the different modes.

HTML5 Video, which allows recorded (and perhaps live) video to be 
indexed and searched easily, should make the integration of video with 
e-learning text much easier. Short audio/video segments, like multimedia 
Tweets, may help bring more flexibility to live online events: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2012/03/web-video-standard-to-revolutionize-e.html

In all of this remember there is a role for simpler communications 
technologies: there is still a use for the telephone. ...

From: Learning to Reduce Carbon Emissions with Unified Communications, 
Tom Worthington, 14 May 2012: 
http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/green_unified_communications/
---

-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation

Adjunct Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/