Saturday, June 29, 2013

Web Cryptography API Draft Published

25 June 2013

The Web Cryptography Working Group has published a Working Draft of Web Cryptography API. This specification describes a JavaScript API for performing basic cryptographic operations in web applications, such as hashing, signature generation and verification, and encryption and decryption. Additionally, it describes an API for applications to generate and/or manage the keying material necessary to perform these operations. Uses for this API range from user or service authentication, document or code signing, and the confidentiality and integrity of communications. Learn more about the Security Activity.

Linked Data Glossary Note Published

27 June 2013

The Government Linked Data Working Group has published a Group Note of Linked Data Glossary. This document is a glossary of terms defined and used to describe Linked Data, and its associated vocabularies and Best Practices. This document will help information management professionals, Web developers, scientists and the general public better understand publishing structured data using Linked Data Principles. Learn more about the eGovernment Activity.

EMMA: Extensible MultiModal Annotation markup language Version 1.1 Draft Published

27 June 2013

The Multimodal Interaction Working Group has published a Working Draft of EMMA: Extensible MultiModal Annotation markup language Version 1.1. This specification provides details for an XML markup language for containing and annotating the interpretation of user input. Examples of interpretation of user input are a transcription into words of a raw signal, for instance derived from speech, pen or keystroke input, a set of attribute/value pairs describing their meaning, or a set of attribute/value pairs describing a gesture. The interpretation of the user's input is expected to be generated by signal interpretation processes, such as speech and ink recognition, semantic interpreters, and other types of processors for use by components that act on the user's inputs such as interaction managers. Learn more about the Multimodal Interaction Activity.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Improve Your Site SEO Using Images

The latest search engine updates have recently made it very clear that the less images you have on your website, the more Google will ignore you. Seems pretty harsh, doesn't it? Before you let yourself get overly discouraged, or take your feelings to the other extreme, and start overloading your web pages with irrelevant images, it is best you take a hard look at what steps will positively affect your SEO, and what steps will hurt your SEO. Google's latest bottom line has made it pretty clear that unless your website has at least one high-quality, relevant image on each page, your SEO will bleed out, and fast.

To all of you website owners who have an easier time putting pen to paper than finger to flash here is the scoop on why Google loves images, and why we better follow suit. Before getting into the nitty gritty, the ultimate fact is, images look good. The world is a much different place than it once was, and that daily newspaper is no longer filled with column to column black and white text. Today, images fuel our society. These small frames, which capture a distinct moment in time captivate our minds, entice our eyes, and mesmerize our senses. The majority of today's online society relies on a delicate juxtaposition of text and images in order to truly relate to what they are seeing on the screen.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2 Draft Published

18 June 2013
The SVG Working Group has published a Working Draft of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2. This specification defines the features and syntax for Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) Version 2, a language for describing two-dimensional vector and mixed vector/raster graphics. Changes in this working draft include introduction of a new ‘hatch’ element as a refinement on patterns, improved accessibility and integration with HTML through the addition of the ‘tabindex’ attribute and changes to the ‘foreignObject’ element, addition of a new 'auto-start-reverse' attribute value for markers, clarification of CSS transforms on SVG content, and various updates to bring SVG closer in line with CSS best practices. See the full list of modifications in the SVG changes appendix. Learn more about the Graphics Activity.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

W3C Workshop Report on Open Data on the Web

W3C published a report summarizing the Open Data on the Web workshop that took place in April. The report summarizes the major themes discussed and conclusions arising from them. Participants discussed how to bridge the gap between the worlds of tabular and linked data, and how to ensure the long term growth of the Web as a platform for data.
Sponsored by Google, Adobe and Microsoft, the workshop was organized by W3C in conjunction with the Open Data Institute and the Open Knowledge Foundation, and hosted by Google at Campus London. Learn more about the Semantic Web.