Programming

As a web designer, you have a variety of tools and resources that you can choose from to make your work easier and/or better, but picking the ones that are the best for your needs might be a little bit difficult if you are not up-to-date.

The Web Application Security Working Group has published a Working Draft of User Interface Security Directives for Content Security Policy. This document defines directives for the Content Security Policy mechanism to declare a set of input protections for a web resource's user interface, defines a non-normative set of heuristics for Web user agents to implement these input protections, and a reporting mechanism for when they are triggered. Learn more about the Security Activity.

The Device APIs Working Group and the Web Applications (WebApps) Working Group have published Working Group Note of Web Intents. This informative specification defines a service discovery and light-weight RPC mechanism for web apps called Web Intents. This document defines DOM interfaces and markup used by client and service pages to create, receive, and reply to Web Intents messages, and the procedures the User Agent carries out to facilitate that process. Learn more about the Ubiquitous Web Applications Activity.

Windows 8, as we all know very well at this point, was designed for touchscreens. Multitasking, the Charms bar, and Snap View (read: split screen) are all quite easy to use with touch gestures — and aren't that bad with a laptop's touchpad — but those who use a traditional mouse have been somewhat left behind. Microsoft is trying to change that today with two mice that are designed to make Windows 8 navigation a bit easier. Microsoft's solution? Place the Windows key directly on the mouse. It's somehow slightly disturbing when you first see it — we're so used to the Windows key being resigned to sitting quietly between the control and alt keys. Nevertheless, it has a prominent spot on both of Microsoft's new mice, the Sculpt... Continue reading…

Using a variety of data sources has been a daunting task for mere mortals.  Now, with the Data Explorer add-in for Excel, you don’t need to be a super hero to unlock data gems.  The Microsoft Data Explorer Preview for Excel is now available for download. Here are the Top 5 Reasons to investigate this new add-in: Discover the World’s Data Connect to a wide variety of Data Sources Combine data from multiple data sources Reshape and transform your data effortlessly Refresh your data anytime Sound interesting?  Head on over to the Microsoft Business Intelligence blog post, “5 Things You Need to Know about Microsoft Data Explorer Preview for Excel” for more details and become a super hero in your organization!

The Device APIs Working Group has published a Last Call Working Draft of Vibration API. This specification defines an API that provides access to the vibration mechanism of the hosting device. Vibration is a form of tactile feedback. Comments are welcome through 13 June. Learn more about the Ubiquitous Web Applications Activity.

2013/05/23 -- Yuki Morishita

2013/05/23 -- Yuki Morishita

In the previous post we presented problems encountered by our client TescaraHats (name changed for commercial reasons), a European market leader in manufacturing customized hats. We argued that while improving search engine ranking is important, you should never forget about the performance and usability in an e-commerce application. In this episode of our e-commerce performance series, we will analyze the impact that the backend performance has on your online sales.

The User Agent Accessibility Guidelines Working Group has published two Working Drafts today. User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0. UAAG 2.0 provides guidelines for designing user agents that lower barriers to Web accessibility for people with disabilities. User agents include browsers and other types of software that retrieve and render Web content. A user agent that conforms to these guidelines will promote accessibility through its own user interface and through other internal facilities, including its ability to communicate with other technologies (especially assistive technologies). Furthermore, all users, not just users with disabilities, should find conforming user agents to be more usable. Implementing UAAG 2.0. This document provides supporting information for the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2.0 for designing user agents that lower barriers to Web accessibility for people with disabilities. In addition to helping developers of browsers and media players, this document will also benefit developers of assistive technologies because it explains what types of information and control an assistive technology may expect from a conforming user agent. Learn more about the WAI Technical Activity.