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Modern Mobile Web Applications and HTML 5
Written by Brendan Kowitz
The internet age has brought globalisation to a new level; we
are all now closer and more connected than ever before.
Furthermore, the rise in the popularity and capability of the
smartphone has brought forth a new market. A generation demanding
rich, personalized, functional web applications delivered to our
pockets, the rise of the Mobile Web.
The Rise of Mobile
The way in which we interact with digital information has been silently evolving over the past few decades. Concurrently, the way in which we develop our applications to deliver such an experience is also changing. The Internet, which hit mainstream late last century[1] has continued to drive and expand availability, reach and accessibility of our applications. In recent years, the popularity and capability of modern smartphones has put the web in our pockets. The growth of mobile internet usage has now increased 3,000 per cent[2] and at the current rate, this is estimated to overtake desktop traffic in the next few years. To bolster the growth of the next generation web application is the HTML5 standard which is gaining widespread support.
The Rise of HTML5
Attention to detail is what makes HTLM5 the largest HTML specification ever written[3]. HTML5 is about documenting the common and accepted features that browsers in the market today already support, while adding features that are both derived from common patterns that have been reoccurring, as well as the evolution in the way we expect to interact with the web. Many of the additional tags and attributes found in 'forms' in HTML5 are examples of common patterns that used to be programmed in JavaScript that have been made declarative with the new specification. CSS3 also has been overhauled with a large number of these as well, with examples such as CSS animation, border radius and box shadows.
In essence, HTLM5 is making development easier by making commonly used patterns declarative. It helps to give a more standard experience to both developers and end users by defining things such as error handling. It helps backwards compatibility by supporting the XML syntax of XHTML and the looser formatting of HTML4.01. We know many sites may still be using older syntax which is why HTML5 has chosen to 'obsolete' elements so that they are still included in the specification for the benefit of browser manufacturers, whereas 'deprecated' elements would not be mentioned at all[4]. It helps forward compatibility by removing the version information from the HTML doctype, documenting and standardising the accepted but undocumented browser functionality today. It helps the development and extensibility of tomorrow by standardising JavaScript APIs and giving us new elements for increased interactivity and redefining content semantics. With this in mind let's examine how the Mobile Web can leverage these new standards.
Where Mobile and HTML5 Intersect
The development of the HTML5 specification has not been taken lightly; there has been an enormous amount of effect in gaining acceptance for what is included. The trend we are experiencing is influenced by the culmination of capable hardware, cheaper Mobile data access and the emerging HTML5 specification being supported by major browser and Mobile browser vendors. Our ability to deliver rich personalised experiences to Mobile users via the web is a booming trend with major inroads into Mobile cloud computing[5]. New features that are included in HTML5 allow Web Application to take greater advantage of device hardware in areas such as sensors, geo location, camera, local storage and graphics. Being agnostic to the platform means we can use this technology to maximise the target audience and avoid device fragmentation that affect the reach of native applications. With the benefits of HTML5 and Mobile finally being realised, let's discuss what the future may hold.
The Future of Web is Mobile
While we can see that the popularity in Mobile Web is increasing, HTML5 has a far bigger, longer, industry-wide, company agnostic vision to achieve. With many more companies finally realising the potential, HTLM5 is constantly gaining support in more platforms, browsers and development tools.
Surely it would be a significant mistake to ignore the emergent trend in the Mobile Web. Some developing countries are bypassing the desktop altogether and pouring all efforts into giving the population access to mobile devices[6].
As we continue to progress from the more traditional, static 'web sites' to the more client side interactive 'web applications', we should be incessantly be thinking about how we can cater for this dynamic mobile market. It is experiencing tremendous growth, continuously becoming more capable, it is more active and more connected than ever before. If the future of the desktop is Web then the future of Web is Mobile.
Read our case study on Australia Post: Windows Phone 7 Application.
[1] Build Mobile Websites and Apps For Smart Devices, 2011, Earle Castledine, Myles Eftos, Max Wheeler
[2] http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/smartphones-to-overtake-desktops-for-internet-20110602-1fi1y.html
[3] http://books.alistapart.com/products/html5-for-web-designers
[4] http://books.alistapart.com/products/html5-for-web-designers
[5] http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/mobile_cloud_computing_95_billion_by_2014.php
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