Hot Topics from the Blogs: July 2004
There's a whole lot of technical information out there on the Web, from major supplier press releases to 'amateur' extension coders, from opinions to tutorials. But with so much out there what's important and what isn't, what is influential and what is one person's soapboxing?
In this brief article, Ian Blackham attempts to highlight and summarize a few of the discussions that have been taking place on some of the more influential blogs in the Web development community. Some of you may read these on a regular basis and even take part in the discussions, however for those that don't, we hope you'll find this (a) an interesting insight into future trends and design points, and (b) provide a starting point for some stimulating and educational web surfing.
Headings
Just to round off this brief foray into blogdom, a topic close to any editors heart – headings. Both mezzoblue and Andy Budd point to this discussion at Jogin.com. Being a refugee from dead wood publications transferring my thinking into PDF doesn't cause any problems – structure and presentation are inextricable.
For a web page though while that might be the case, there's a good chance presentation will provide structure that isn't actually reflected in the underlying code. This discussion has been picked up on over on Eric Meyer's blog where he discusses some of the issues he's faced, and gets some feedback.
Personally this topic hasn't yet sunk in with me yet, but does highlight the fact that building a front-end to a website can be deceptively simple to do, but the ramifications from each decision you make can run deep.
I hope you've enjoyed this little trawl around the virtual homes of some of the great and the good – let me know if you’d like the experience repeated some time.
Ian Blackham
Following a degree in Chemistry and a doctorate in Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Ian spent several years wrestling with acronyms in industrial R&D (SEM with a side order of EDS, AFM and TEM augmented with a topping of XPS and SIMS and yet more SEM and TEM).
Feeling that he needed a career with more terminology but less high voltages, Ian became a technical/commissioning editor with Wrox Press working on books as diverse as Beg VB Application Development and Professional Java Security. After Wrox's dissolution and a few short term assignments Ian helped out with DMXzone's premium content section.
Ian is a refugee from the industrial Black Country having slipped across the border to live in Birmingham. In his spare time he helps out with the website of a local history society, tries to makes sure he does what his wife Kate says, and worries that the little 'un Noah is already more grown up than he is.