The next major worry for corperate web designers will be accessability -- making pages viewable for persons with disabilities. There are several different browsing methods available for physically and mentally handicapped persons. For the most part, they depend on text-only or well-defined HTML pages.
Up until the 9-11 attacks, the U.S. Gov't was feeling the pinch of updating their pages for accessability. Pretty soon public universities will be mandated by the gov't to make their pages accessable under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
And very soon after that, corperations will start getting sued by different disabilities groups for not making their web pages accessable according to Section 504.
Too bad the main page news item (for this thread) has lost a closing italics tag.
Bikes and Segways could help each other
on
This is IT?
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
I like to think of it as an alternative to the bike, not competition. Both can easily coexist.
Yes. Actually one can help the other.
Theoretically, if the Segway takes off, there will be a greater demand for small vehicle traffic design. Bike lanes -- intended for usage for both bikes and Segways -- could be added to some of the major areas surrounding urban centers.
Designing a traffic infrastructure for both vehicles would encourage and benefit both.
Of course, I emphasize the word "Theoretically" in this assessment. Americans' love affair with the automobile runs too deep. It might not be efficient to drive our asses a few miles, but automobiles offer relative safety, protection from weather, cargo hauling and occasionally social status.
The threat of lawsuits really do challenge a medium's freedom of speech.
I worked for an independent University newspaper that published a column that made some questionable comments about the current Miss America. By definition, the column could not be considered libel. Proving it in the US Court system, however, would cost more money than the newspaper could make in several years.
In my specific case, the columnist was no longer allowed to contribute to the newspaper, in order to circumvent current and future problems. As an editor at that paper, I loathed knowing that a voice -- that often agressively challenged popular thought -- was silenced.
According to others in the media business, this kind of censorship by threatened legal action happens all the time. Sad but true.
Several years ago I taught a web class for elementary school children for a summer camp. It was quite an experience.
Here are some thought from what I have learned about teaching kids tech:
Keep Them Busy: I made the mistake that all the kids would be happily content with the simple lessons I threw at them. Several students were extremely fast and I could never keep them satisfied. I didn't plan on the kids to finish quickly. Making kids just surf the web to buy time didn't go over very well.
Web Pages: I was able to get the kids to work progressively on their own home pages. Gave them a primer on HTML, then we used an AOL GUI application to build the web pages. That application totally sucked, but because it was GUI, the kids pick right up on it. Also gave them a simple server/client explanation on how the web worked. The artistic/imaginative kids in your class will be swept up in making their web pages.
Careful When You Chat: Also gave the kids a impromtu course on IRC chat... then watched as some hooligans came in our seperate chat room and started cussing. The kids really enjoyed that... but their parents didn't...
Get Permissions and Trial Runs: Take the time to set up every client-based application yourself. Get early access to the labs if necessary. Also, tell those in charge exactly what you plan on installing on thier systems, and how to get it off.
For just about anything you want to teach (HTML, IRC Chat, etc) you can find free stuff on the web. I was surprised how the kids took to using freeservers.com. Also, be sure to be prepared when some kids just don't get whatever your teaching -- its difficult on the child when his peers are ready to move on.
These people are the worst hypocrites imaginable!... My god, I can't believe that these people are complaining about this... It boggles the mind...
This article wasn't necesarily opinions held by Salon.com but by the writer alone. As Salon's fact sheet says about the Technology & Business section, "Smart, opinionated coverage of business, Internet news and digital culture from today's best technology and business writers." Here, the "opinionated" clearly is assocated to "today's best... writers."
Some support from Salon towards the article's viewpoint is given in the act of publishing the article. However, without explicit identification of the article as an official editoral opinion of the Salon site, any opinions and viewpoints brought forth in the article should be attributed to the author and not the publisher.
Schools like Digipen focus mainly on platform programming, eg how to code for the N64. That's fine and dandy, but happens when it takes 4 years to do the curriculum and then the hardware's outdated?
The methods they teach focus more on the platform systems, but they don't just learn how to write programs just for a specific platform. Check out Digipen'sacademic information.
Somebody who once wanted to attend Digipen explained to me that a lot of platform specific info is taught, but can be carried across to computer programming.
But Nintendo has a nearly guaranteed winner in the GAMECUBE because kids are going to want one no matter what, as Nintendo has trademarks on popular franchises such as Super Mario, the series formerly known as Zelda (when was the last time you saw Princess Z being rescued? A Link to the Past?),
Hmmm... Princess Zelda was the subject of rescue during Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
That was a N64 game.
Obviously your assertion that "kids are going to want [GameCube] no matter what," is based off of past Nintendo history. If you were up-to-date on the Nintendo games and franchises, you'd know there was a Zelda in Ocarina of Time. And you'd also know that kids love affair with Pokemon is fading.
Nintendo's first party franchise games will be on the GameCube, but they're going to be more than just a kiddie system. Check out some of those "kiddie" games slated for the GameCube on IGN.com.
Compared to Sony, it's a harder platform to write for. With Sony a lot of the low level stuff is already functionalized for you in the SDK. This is really key for fast game porting. This is not to say it will be an ultra optimized port. I wouldn't suggest it if you're trying to push the GFX to the extreme, but if you want to make "Who wants to be a gazillionare" for the PSX it's easier than start from scratch on Nintendo.
I think you're a bit mixed up on which console is "easier" to program...
There has been complaints for over a year now about how the PlayStation 2 is one of the most difficult consoles to program. Due mainly to parallel processing and that almost all graphic effects are done via software. One of the main reasons why PS2 games were few and not extremely graphically impressive during the system's launch last year was because of the difficult graphic programming.
(I'm not for sure, but didn't the developer for Oddworld expicitly switch from PS2 to X-box due to those problems? -- I don't have a link to back that up.)
The May 2001 issue of Wired contains an article about the GScube -- Sony's prototype of the PlayStation to come. In it, another woe of programming for the PS2 is revealed: Parallel programming. Most game programmers had too much difficulty adjusting to new architecture.
Most adept programmers wouldn't be too scared off by parallel programming. But if a game company can make millions by programming the old fashioned way on the X-box, or make millions minus new development time for the PS2, which way will they go?
Even game publishers who make one game and seventeen ports will lean away from difficult-to-program consoles.
Back in the day, the N64 was more difficult to program for than the original PlayStation. But that is not now.
Slashdot Mirror
Grandma is protected
Perhaps we should call this day "4/.1"?
Something tells me that Hemos is going to be wondering where the big influx of flamemail came from.
The next major worry for corperate web designers will be accessability -- making pages viewable for persons with disabilities. There are several different browsing methods available for physically and mentally handicapped persons. For the most part, they depend on text-only or well-defined HTML pages.
Up until the 9-11 attacks, the U.S. Gov't was feeling the pinch of updating their pages for accessability. Pretty soon public universities will be mandated by the gov't to make their pages accessable under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
And very soon after that, corperations will start getting sued by different disabilities groups for not making their web pages accessable according to Section 504.
Check out W3C's Web Accessability Initiative for a starting place.
Positive I'm not the first one to post this, but: Taco's Antics make Wired News
Now tomorrow, Wired will probably run an in-depth analysis of WWWuv. Bret Hume (of Fox News probably will have something smartass to say too.
Wait, nevermind. The lost italics tag occurs in the previous thread.
Too bad the main page news item (for this thread) has lost a closing italics tag.
Theoretically, if the Segway takes off, there will be a greater demand for small vehicle traffic design. Bike lanes -- intended for usage for both bikes and Segways -- could be added to some of the major areas surrounding urban centers.
Designing a traffic infrastructure for both vehicles would encourage and benefit both.
Of course, I emphasize the word "Theoretically" in this assessment. Americans' love affair with the automobile runs too deep. It might not be efficient to drive our asses a few miles, but automobiles offer relative safety, protection from weather, cargo hauling and occasionally social status.
The threat of lawsuits really do challenge a medium's freedom of speech.
I worked for an independent University newspaper that published a column that made some questionable comments about the current Miss America. By definition, the column could not be considered libel. Proving it in the US Court system, however, would cost more money than the newspaper could make in several years.
In my specific case, the columnist was no longer allowed to contribute to the newspaper, in order to circumvent current and future problems. As an editor at that paper, I loathed knowing that a voice -- that often agressively challenged popular thought -- was silenced.
According to others in the media business, this kind of censorship by threatened legal action happens all the time. Sad but true.
Here are some thought from what I have learned about teaching kids tech:
For just about anything you want to teach (HTML, IRC Chat, etc) you can find free stuff on the web. I was surprised how the kids took to using freeservers.com. Also, be sure to be prepared when some kids just don't get whatever your teaching -- its difficult on the child when his peers are ready to move on.
Christopher N Emmick
This article wasn't necesarily opinions held by Salon.com but by the writer alone. As Salon's fact sheet says about the Technology & Business section, "Smart, opinionated coverage of business, Internet news and digital culture from today's best technology and business writers." Here, the "opinionated" clearly is assocated to "today's best... writers."
Some support from Salon towards the article's viewpoint is given in the act of publishing the article. However, without explicit identification of the article as an official editoral opinion of the Salon site, any opinions and viewpoints brought forth in the article should be attributed to the author and not the publisher.
Christopher N Emmick
Did Romero design those boobs for her? Or is that one of her own mods? Maybe Alice McGee gave her figure a once-over with the level editor.
Either way, they don't look naturally that big. Overinflated -- like the hype surrounding Daikatana.
Christopher N Emmick
Somebody who once wanted to attend Digipen explained to me that a lot of platform specific info is taught, but can be carried across to computer programming.
Christopher N Emmick
Before Akira fans start salivating, note that most anime videogames haven't been that great.
Remember Vampire Hunter D, Dragon Ball Z: Final Bout, Gundam Wing: Battle Assault?
Of course, GameSpot ranks these games a bit higher than they deserve, IMHO.
Also there was a Gundam Wing game being developed for the PS2 launch, and it suddenly disappeared.
Christopher N Emmick
But Nintendo has a nearly guaranteed winner in the GAMECUBE because kids are going to want one no matter what, as Nintendo has trademarks on popular franchises such as Super Mario, the series formerly known as Zelda (when was the last time you saw Princess Z being rescued? A Link to the Past?),
Hmmm... Princess Zelda was the subject of rescue during Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
That was a N64 game.
Obviously your assertion that "kids are going to want [GameCube] no matter what," is based off of past Nintendo history. If you were up-to-date on the Nintendo games and franchises, you'd know there was a Zelda in Ocarina of Time. And you'd also know that kids love affair with Pokemon is fading.
Nintendo's first party franchise games will be on the GameCube, but they're going to be more than just a kiddie system. Check out some of those "kiddie" games slated for the GameCube on IGN.com.
Christopher N Emmick
Compared to Sony, it's a harder platform to write for. With Sony a lot of the low level stuff is already functionalized for you in the SDK. This is really key for fast game porting. This is not to say it will be an ultra optimized port. I wouldn't suggest it if you're trying to push the GFX to the extreme, but if you want to make "Who wants to be a gazillionare" for the PSX it's easier than start from scratch on Nintendo.
I think you're a bit mixed up on which console is "easier" to program...
There has been complaints for over a year now about how the PlayStation 2 is one of the most difficult consoles to program. Due mainly to parallel processing and that almost all graphic effects are done via software. One of the main reasons why PS2 games were few and not extremely graphically impressive during the system's launch last year was because of the difficult graphic programming.
(I'm not for sure, but didn't the developer for Oddworld expicitly switch from PS2 to X-box due to those problems? -- I don't have a link to back that up.)
The May 2001 issue of Wired contains an article about the GScube -- Sony's prototype of the PlayStation to come. In it, another woe of programming for the PS2 is revealed: Parallel programming. Most game programmers had too much difficulty adjusting to new architecture.
Most adept programmers wouldn't be too scared off by parallel programming. But if a game company can make millions by programming the old fashioned way on the X-box, or make millions minus new development time for the PS2, which way will they go?
Even game publishers who make one game and seventeen ports will lean away from difficult-to-program consoles.
Back in the day, the N64 was more difficult to program for than the original PlayStation. But that is not now.
Christopher N Emmick