Class 05: HTML, Experimentation and Reflections

Held Monday, January 31, 2000

Overview

Today we continue our consideration of HTML with some more hands-on exercises and some discussions of the implications of HTML.

Question for today's class: What does the use of HTML as the language of the World Wide Web say about the Web's accessiblity?

Question for Tuesday's class: Do cascading style sheets better support readers or authors?

Notes

• Don't forget about the CS brown-bag lunch today at noon.
  • I won't be there because I'm stuck preparing my afternoon class.
• Today's class will mix laboratory and discussion.
• For tomorrow, spend a few minutes (say fifteen) scanning the documentation on cascading style sheets, available on the Web at http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-CSS1.
• We'll probably split tomorrow's class between discussion and a lab on cascading style sheets.
• Note that the syllabus has changed for this week. On Wednesday, we'll start talking about algorithms.
• I injured my foot over the weekend, and may not be walking very well for the next few days.

Contents

• HTML Lab, Continued
• Implications of HTML

Summary

• HTML lab, continued
• Discussion
• Handouts:
  • Your answers to question 5

HTML Lab, Continued

For the first twenty-five minutes or so of today's class, we'll continue to work on the HTML lab.

Implications of HTML

HTML was the first markup language of the World Wide Web, and remains the primary markup language for the Web. (That may soon change.)

• What does the use of HTML say about who can write Web documents?
• What does the use of basic HTML say about the kinds of documents that can be on the Web?
• Would you call HTML a logical or physical formatting language?
• (We may come up with more.)