7 Things You Should Know About HTML5

1. What is it?

HTML5 is the fifth revision of the HTML markup language. In broad terms, it came about as several different groups (including the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)) took note that in order to keep the web a viable platform, a revised set of standard features would be needed to make it easier to deliver modern content and applications via the internet.

HTML5 is not necessarily one new technology, but an umbrella term for several technologies (primarily HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, but including other related technologies).

The recently proposed HTML5 standards include a wide range of technologies from new semantic markup tags, form fields, and graphical enhancements like built-in dropshadows, to native audio/video support (i.e. media without third party plugins), native vector image support (using the SVG standard), and support for dynamic graphic rendering (including the ability to render interactive games, etc.).

There are also other technologies considered to be under or related to HTML5 such as support for local database storage, WebGL (for 3D graphics support), geolocation, and local filesystem access.

2. How does it work?

HTML5 features and functionality are gradually being incorporated into web browsers and other technologies. It doesn’t work in any way that is particularly different from current web technologies, it simply takes knowledge of how to incorporate the new feature set.

3. Who is doing it?

HTML5 is being employed by Apple, Microsoft, Opera, Mozilla, Google (essentially every major player in technology). Apple and Opera were the first to continue work on the new HTML5 standard.

Apple was the first to make a major push by eschewing plug-in technology (namely Adobe Flash) on its iPhone and iPad platforms in favor for HTML5.

The Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Chrome browsers all implement some subset of the HTML5 specifications.

The new Start Screen feature in Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system will employ technology based on HTML5 and JavaScript.

4. Why is it significant?

HTML5 is a revision not only in a set of technology standards but a reflection of the complete change in internet-delivered content. The HTML standard was originally created with the sharing of text-based documents in mind. Over time, the need to incorporate other forms of media generated a wide variety of third-party plugin platforms (eventually dominated by Adobe Flash).

HTML5 is an effort to take what the World Wide Web has grown into over the past few decades, and to create open standards on how to deliver that content natively in a web browser, application, or device.

HTML5 in many ways represents a new stage of maturity for the Internet as a platform for content delivery, and reflects how the Internet has changed the way content is shared globally.

5. What are the downsides?

HTML5 is still in its early stages and its specification is still incomplete. Many browsers implement a small subset of the new HTML5 functionality and features but practical usage of the technology is still immature. In simple terms, much of HTML5 is still experimental and not yet widely used.

There is no inherent Digital Rights Management in HTML5 technologies at this point.

6. Where is it going?

HTML5 is now an open standard that will be revised continually as the Internet and its content-delivery systems evolves.

7. What are the implications for teaching and learning?

HTML5 brings an opportunity to create richer presentation of all web-based content, including educational content. It provides methods for enhanced data visualization and the delivery of concepts and ideas. It also stands to be a ubiquitous component of future content delivery of any sort, including daily life.