W3C Multimodal Standard Brings Web to More People, More Ways
2009-02-10: As part of ensuring the Web is available to all people on any device, W3C published a new standard today to enable interactions beyond the familiar keyboard and mouse. EMMA, the EMMA: Extensible MultiModal Annotation Markup Language, promotes the development of rich Web applications that can be adapted to more input modes (such as handwriting, natural language, and gestures) and output modes (such as synthesized speech) at lower cost. The document, published by the Multimodal Interaction Working Group, is part of a set of specifications for multimodal systems, and provides details of an XML markup language for containing and annotating the interpretation of user input. Read the press release and testimonials, and learn more about the Multimodal Interaction Activity. (Permalink)
Call for Review: Service Modeling Language, Version 1.1 Proposed Recommendation
2009-02-13: The Service Modeling Language Working Group has published the Proposed Recommendations of Service Modeling Language, Version 1.1 and Service Modeling Language Interchange Format Version 1.1. SML extends the coherence-checking mechanisms of W3C XML Schema from individual documents to collections of documents. SML-IF extends the utility of SML by providing mechanisms for gathering together a set of documents whose coherence is guaranteed by an SML schema, which itself is part of the resulting package. Comments are welcome through 12 March. Learn more about the Extensible Markup Language (XML) Activity. (Permalink)
Drafts of HTML 5, Differences from HTML 4 Published
2009-02-12: The HTML Working Group has published Working Drafts of HTML 5 and HTML 5 differences from HTML 4. In this version of HTML5, new features are introduced to help Web application authors, new elements are introduced based on research into prevailing authoring practices, and special attention has been given to defining clear conformance criteria for user agents in an effort to improve interoperability. Learn more about the HTML Activity. (Permalink)
Incubator Group Report: RDB2RDF
2009-02-10: The RDB2RDF Incubator Group published their final report. In the report, the group recommends that the W3C initiate a WG to standardize a language for mapping Relational Database schemas into RDF and OWL. This publication is part of the Incubator Activity, a forum where W3C Members can innovate and experiment. This work is not on the W3C standards track. (Permalink)
Widgets 1.0: APIs and Events
2009-02-10: The Web Applications Working Group has published the First Public Working Draft of Widgets 1.0: APIs and Events. This specification defines a set of APIs and events for the Widgets 1.0 Family of Specifications that enable baseline functionality for widgets. The APIs and Events defined by this specification defines, amongst other things, the means to:
- access the metadata declared in a widget's configuration document,
- receive events related to changes in the view state of a widget,
- determine the locale under which a widget is currently running,
- be notified of events relating to the widget being updated,
- invoke a widget to open a URL on the system's default browser,
- requests the user's attention in a device independent manner,
- and check if any additional APIs requested via the configuration document's feature element have successfully loaded.
Learn more about the Rich Web Client Activity. (Permalink)
Upcoming Meetings
Upcoming Talks
- 25 February, Cambridge, MA, USA: W3C's Semantic Web in Heath Care and Life Sciences Interest GroupLee Feigenbaum, Susie Stephens, Eric Prud'hommeaux give a tutorial at Conference on Semantics in Healthcare and Life Sciences (C-SHALS) .
- 2 March, San Diego, USA: Frontiers in Interaction: The Power of Multimodal StandardsDeborah Dahl presents at Voice Search 2009.
- 14 March, Austin, TX, USA: Making Web Widgets Accessible: Tools and TechniquesMichael Cooper participates in a panel at South by Southwest Conference.
- 19 March, Los Angeles, CA, USA: Towards a More Accessible BrowserJeanne Spellman, Jim Allan present at CSUN Center on Disabilities 24th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference.
- 19 March, Los Angeles, CA, USA: The New WCAG 2: Web Accessibility Q&A with the EditorsShawn Henry, Michael Cooper, Loretta Guarino Reid participate in a panel at CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference.
- 21 March, Prague, Czech Republic: XML Processing and ChoreographyMohamed Zergaoui presents at XML Prague 2009.
- 22 March, Prague, Czech Republic: Exploring XProcNorman Walsh presents at XML Prague 2009.
- 27 March, Frankfurt, Germany: Mobile Access – Device-independent or AccessibleDominique Hazaël-Massieux participates in a panel at European Accessibility Forum.
- 29 April, Madrid, Spain: Web Accessibility and Older Users - We Are There!Andrew Arch gives a keynote at W4A2009 - International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility.
- 15 June, San Jose, CA, USA: What is New in W3C Land?Ivan Herman presents at 2009 Semantic Technology Conference.
- 15 June, San Jose, CA, USA: Introduction to the Semantic WebIvan Herman gives a tutorial at 2009 Semantic Technology Conference.
- 16 June, San Jose, CA, USA: Introducing OWL 2Ivan Herman participates in a panel at 2009 Semantic Technology Conference.
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