Tips, web design book reviews, resources and observations for teaching and learning web development.
The survey included over 1000 women in the BlogHer community. The basic findings show that these women love their work, feel that entrepreneureal spirit about work, believe in mentorship, but still see inequity in the workplace.
The infographic is easier to read if you view it full screen.
Two articles about the title attribute provide new thinking on the usefulness of the attribute. From David Bell, I thought title text improved accessibility. I was wrong. An update from the Paciello Group Blog, Using the HTML title attribute – updated. I’m going to have to rethink my use of the title attribute in affiliate links to serve as a notice that the link is to an affiliate. May simply state it in the text instead.
Ars Technica talked to the Congresswoman from Silicon Valley at CES. It’s worth reading her thoughts on where tech legislation will go in 2013.
Okay, never asked questions. Seldom is an exaggeration. But always that philosophical question lingers in the air: why are you here? These SAQs (okay NAQs) will explain everything.
Q: Why are you here?
A: I started here because I wanted to talk about how non-web-standards-based and non-teachable most of the tech books I was using to teach with were. Books are better now, so I mostly talk nice about them.
Q: Do you have any really great tips?
A: I have a lot of tips, but this is the best one. In fact, it is such a great tip I’m calling it Virginia’s Law Against Unintended HTML. It goes like this:
Play with the way your content will look before the content is on the page, not after.
Virginia’s Law Against Unintended HTML is so all-encompassing it applies to blog users and Dreamweaver users, too.*
Q: What’s this teacher thing?
A: Well, I’m an educator. You thought I was a dream in PHP coder? No, I’m an educator. So when I talk about web design or technology or web education, it’s always through that peculiar filter.
Q: Who cares about that web education crap, anyway?
A: Mostly teachers and students and web standards gurus and accessibility advocates and corporate trainers and human resource managers and small businesses in search of a web site. Even self-taught learners scrolling among Google results. Are you anything like those people?
Q: You’re always going on about women. What’s up with that?
A: I support good work from others. I’m not the jealous type so it doesn’t bother me to promote other people’s work rather than my own. I support good work from both men and women, but I love to point out what women do because they are a misused and misunderstood element in the tech world. I’m a woman, so I know this. I’m also old – would you rather I was always going on about old people?
Q: What’s a good book to read about web design?
A: Start with books about HTML and CSS. Read a lot of those. After you get really good at those two things, read books about JavaScript or PHP. I’ve recommended a few books over the years. Read good books about design and Photoshop, too. Read the books I wrote, for gosh sakes, and buy them brand new, not used. Thank you.
Q: What are you learning about lately?
A: I’m quite interested in HTML5 and study it a lot. The new CSS is fascinating, too. I like new ideas. If your job is to produce HTML emails for big corporations, I recommend you study HTML 3.2 a lot. You can make big money by doing things from the old days that everyone else has forgotten how to do. HTML 3.2 anyone?
Q: Has social media changed the world?
A: Wait, I will answer as soon as I update my Twitter and take my turn in Words with Friends. Oh, look what my friend said on Facebook – isn’t that cute? Uhh, what was the question?
*Look! A Footnote: Some people refer to this concept as separation of content from presentation, but I refer to it as Virginia’s Law Against Unintended HTML.
What I Learned by Pretending to be Blind for a Week is from David Ball at SilkTide. Should be required reading for anyone with a website.
A Java vulnerability prompted the Dept. of Homeland Security to recommend that everyone remove their Java plugins. Since then, Oracle has updated Java, but the recommendation remains.
World of Warcraft players raised $2.3 million for Hurricane Sandy victims. Three cheers for these generous gamers.
The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue
I’ve never heard Sharma Kabani speak, but I can almost feel her voice reaching out of this book: an enthusiastic and very present voice that inspires listeners to make the leap into social media marketing. She’s full of encouraging quotes, examples of success, and tips to help marketers understand various social media sites and how to use them to best advantage. The book feels as if it was created from her speaking engagements and carries a vibe that feels like she’s right in front of you with a set of slides.
Kabani begins by explaining basics like the need for a website and/or a blog. She talks about SEO and what social media marketing is and is not. Then she goes through a series of chapters about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. These chapters about specific social media sites are all organized in the same way. She explains,
The chapters about individual sites provide both basic how-to information and tips on marketing that are valuable and specific.
The book also has chapters about using video, about creating a social media policy, social media case studies from real businesses and advertising on social media.
Kabani made occasional statements that seemed a bit arbitrary to me, for example, you should blog twice a week, or you should synchronize all your social media efforts with ping.fm. I think she would certainly be more nuanced than these statements appear if you could engage in a Q&A with her.
Summary: A helpful guide for marketers who are unfamiliar with social media marketing and strategy.
A review by Virginia DeBolt of The Zen of Social Media Marketing (rating: 4 stars)
Disclosure: The publisher provided a review copy of this book, but my opinions are my own.
Bruce Lawson published a far-reaching interview with Ian Hickson, AKA Hixie, the editor of HTML5 at HTML5 Doctor. Maybe it’s because I just reviewed a book about Mark Zuckerberg, but this interview with Ian Hickson makes me think Hixie’s process and vision in managing the implementation of HTML5 amid a barrage of criticisms and complaints might be an interesting book. How about it, Bruce?
Changes to the recommendation for ARIA roles in <section> and <form> elements are listed in Using ARIA in HTML at the W3C. With some exceptions, ARIA roles are not recommended with these elements.
The Future of WCAG: Maximising its Strengths Not its Weaknesses is a long and thoughtful look at the WCAG accessibility guidelines. The author examines the guidelines strengths and weaknesses and takes a look at what needs to be done to move forward with this (or some similar) recommendation in the future.
Sometimes we forget to be amazed by modern technology. Stay amazed. In the grand scheme of things, the way we live now is a blip and modern technology is a recent revolution. Stay amazed.
A few minutes ago I saw this tweet.
just ordered my copy of @alexsteffen new book Carbon Zero! alexsteffen.com
— Venessa Miemis (@VenessaMiemis) January 9, 2013
I admire Alex Steffen and appreciate his work, so I quickly checked out the book on Amazon and within about 2 1/2 seconds I had it downloaded to my Kindle Reader. You have to admit, the whole interaction between Twitter, Amazon, and my device is pretty amazing.
