> I'm looking at the guidelines and the Technical FAQs for
> guidance, but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer to
> the question "how wide", widely accessible should be.
>
> <quote>
> Projects must be accessible by a variety of browsers,
> hardware systems, automated programs and end-users.
>
> Web services must be accessible to a wide range of browsers
> and hardware devices (e.g. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
> as well as PCs). </quote>
>
> Assuming that the accepted approach to this is to use
> stylesheets, templating and device detection routines to
> deliver appropriate content for each standard, is it possible
> to draw a line for practical or economic purposes?
>
> e.g. "appropriate resources will be available to Web
> Browsers, WebTV and PDA devices currently complying with
> HTML/XHTML and CSS standards and may be available in the
> future for WAP or WML compliant devices (and other protocols)
> as and when demand and funds for creating suitable
> stylesheets and templates permit."
>
> Some sort of acceptable limit would be useful.
>
> Thanks
>
> Tony
Hi Tony
It is not really possible for the NOF-digitise Technical Advisory
Service to be prescriptive: not only are there are 152 projects, with
different aims, backgrounds, funding levels, etc. but we have no special
insight into how things will develop in the future (will WAP make a
comeback with WAP2.0?)
The point of the statement is to ensure that projects do not develop
Web sites which will be restricted to the current generation of PC-based
systems. Compliance with standards will help in the repurposing of your
content, but this is not sufficeint in itself.
A possible scenario for the future would be use of PDAs (e.g.
PocketPCs or Palms, or maybe one of the new devices which are starting
to appear, such as the Pogo or maybe a mobile eBook reader which
implements the Open Ebook XML standard) with wireless connections to be
used while visiting a museum (I know there are a number of projects - IN
the EU and US - which are looking into this approach). I don't think
any NOF-digi projects are funded to do this; the intention is, however,
that projects will be storing their resources in a neutral format which
are managed by a flexible content management system which will allow
this type of reuse to take place "relatively" easily (relatively is in
quotes as this refers to the technical aspects, in practice I suspect
new forms of user interfaces will be needed).
Note that in addition to handheld devices (and devices for people
with disabilities), as stated we expect resources to be available to
automated software.
It would not be appropriate for us to prescribe the range of devices
(I can imagine the reaction if we mandated access by WAP phones!).
However please don't real that there is a trap which has been set for
you. I think it would be useful for you to document how you would make
your resources available to a mobile device which supports an XML
standard other than XHTML - but it will a business decision to be taken
by your organisation as to whether you decide to go down such a path.
I hope this clarifies things.
Brian
---------------------------------------
Brian Kelly
UK Web Focus
UKOLN
University of Bath
BATH
BA2 7AY
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/
Phone: 01225 38 3943
>
