Tuesday 29 September 2009

Why Bottom Posting Sucks

Throughout the years, posting styles in email lists and in forums have been a point of contention. Essentially, there are three types of posting styles.

1. Inline posting. In this style, the responder answers queries or provides insight throughout the document.
2. Top posting. The responder writes his thoughts at the top of the previous discussion. This particular method has long been frowned upon because the dialog is out of order.
3. Bottom posting. The responder writes at the very bottom of the discussion, leaving the previous dialog intact and creates a sequential order for the discussion.

At first glance, both inline and bottom posting make sense. The logic of each is maintained. In the first case you have essentially an actual dialog. He writes, she responds, the conversation goes back and forth. In bottom-posting, you have all the sequential context of the dialog available.

There is also the issue of what gets clipped out, or doesn’t. But let’s save that rant for another day. The issues with these styles have only been based on preference within the group or organization, and it’s daunting to think how much people argue about something so seemingly simple.

Because I personally find inline posting to make sense, as I am a verbal person and think in dialog anyway, let’s set that one aside. It’s fairly neutral overall. Most people won’t freak out if you use inline posting. Although I’m sure there are some of you out there!

Top-posting puts the sequence out of order. So why am I advocating it over bottom-posting? There are several reasons, all of which have their own logic. First, we’re becoming extremely used to backward sequencing. Blogs do this automatically. Twitter does too. Think of any social network and the way your posts are ordered. They are essentially top-posted.

Not only are we becoming accustomed to this behavior and perhaps prefer it in certain situations, but a second point also reigns true. We have many tools now so as to retrieve and save threads. IMAP, for one. Gmail provides archives. All current, popular mail clients allow some sort of filtering and thread views.

A third and important reason bottom-posting needs to die a fast death is the increasing access of email on small devices. It becomes absolutely senseless to have an entire novel sent when the message is simply “yup, I’m on the task” or what have you.

The final reason that bottom-posting sucks is that long emails that require a user to scroll through what is sometimes pages and pages of information is physically damaging and actually very difficult to do for those of us whose wrists and fingers tire easily. If someone with mobility impairments has to scroll through so much data just to get to “yup, I’m on the task” it just becomes an insult to that user, who suffers through the inconvenience to get to the message.

Two words: Not Accessible.

If there is any reason for everyone to abandon bottom-posting at this point in our evolution, I have to say it’s that alone. And if you’re young and strong and able-bodied and think I’m nuts, that’s okay. I’m probably older than your mother and sticking around to hear you grow up and say “Mom, you were right” will be my goal!

Bottom posting sucks. Let’s abolish it now and get on with the day.

Filed under:   accessibility, policies, pop culture, professional, revolution, society, software
Posted by:   Molly | 17:24 | Comments (61)

Friday 13 February 2009

I Am an Opera Singer

“I am an opera singer / I sing in foreign lands / Most people seem to know my name / Or at least know who I am” – Cake

Today marks a major passage in my life, and I’d like to share it with you. At 13:00 hours on Friday the 13th of 2009, I formally became an employee of Opera Software, ASA. My position is Web Evangelist, working on the Developer Relations team. I will be based out of the Mountain View, California office, although I will continue traveling as well as doing workshops and conferences. My job description is exactly what my job has always been: evangelism and outreach for standards and an open, accessible, multi-modal Web.

What is astonishing to me is that for the first time in my career, I am with a company that specifically empowers its employees in regards to open standards. This is quite the change of pace, for as many readers are aware, through my former roles as a group lead for the Web Standards Project (WaSP) and then as a standards consultant to Microsoft, standards evangelism has been an uphill battle with no rest for the weary, no aid for the wounded.

Not so at Opera. I’m working with some of the most talented folks in the business. Henny Swan, Chris Mills, Bruce Lawson, Jon Hicks, and of course Hakon Lie and so many others. The contributions these people have made to the industry and to the world are a light of inspiration, and I am very honored to be part of a company whose core creed is an open Web, and whose developer motto “Follow the Standards / Break the Rules” fits a personality like mine perfectly.

My role at Opera will largely be meeting with people, providing resources on Web standards, organizing events that promote open Web and best practices, and essentially evangelizing the essential truths of the Web that I’ve always held dear: Platform agnostic, user agent agnostic, ability/disability agnostic. Anyone. Anywhere. That’s the vision, and now I have the resources, support and security of a company whose time has truly come.

Of course, this is also the same day that it’s been outed that Microsoft IE8 will blacklist sites where the IE7 compatibility button is used by many people. This means that if you want IE8 readiness, you have to get ready now, or you run the risk of having your sites be on this blacklist, forcing IE7 rendering even if you authored the sites using open standards. So while this post is a personal announcement, anyone working on the Web please read up on this issue and pre-empt a potential blacklist on your site.

People who know me and know the history of how the IE8 opt-in opt-out switch got all, well, switched around will see immediately the irony of today’s events. I really, really want to maintain the belief that when Microsoft made that impressive and unprecedented leap into shipping standards mode as default, that that meant something. That was the result of a lot of hard work, a lot of pain, a lot of fury, and at least one person (me) who is now sitting here wondering if anything I spent the last year and a half of my life doing was helpful. That I am a mix of emotions right now is logical, because I know so many good folks within the IE team who believe. Their struggle is a difficult one and I don’t envy them, but I think this is a significant wrongdoing. A dramatic analogy in my mind is hey, so if I keep stepping on the brakes in my car, eventually I’ll opt out of them working?

All the more reason I’m counting my blessings that I’m with a company that wants standards. I don’t want to battle anymore. I want no more browser wars. I want peace in all the land. Is this an impossible dream? I don’t know, but for the first time in my adult life I am actually an employee to a company other than my own, a decision that was not made lightly. In fact, this is the third time I’ve been offered a job at Opera, so I’m going to remain an optimist, do my vocal exercises, and continue singing for a useful, beautiful, meaningful and interoperable Web.

Filed under:   announcement, browsers, community, ie8, microsoft, professional, society, software, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 21:04 | Comments (84)

Thursday 11 December 2008

W3C Validators in Jeopardy

As many folks who follow the W3C are aware, financial and bureaucratic issues have challenged the organization for many years. But one thing the W3C has held steady with is its validators, which are regularly and freely utilized by Web designers and developers world over.

It’s come to pass that the funding necessary to maintain and grow validation services at the W3C has become overwhelming to the W3C’s operational budget. As such, the validators are in jeopardy.

But there are ways to help, and this post is a call to action to do just that.

We’ve set up a donation system to allow for a number of different donations concepts: Donor, Sponsored, Community Fundraising, and in the spirit of open source and standards, plenty of opportunity to give of your time and knowledge to assist with the work.

It works like this:

• Donor: A donor is anyone interested in donating money to the cause. A micropayment of 1.00 USD if the validator “saves your day” can be very helpful!
• Sponsor: A sponsor is a company or organization that donates to the W3C
• Community Fundraising: There are two badges available at the W3C that link to the fundraising page. If you support the validator, encourage others by placing a badge on your site and blogging about the topic
• Time Not Money: If you cannot or do not wish to donate money, your time is as or even more valuable. There are opportunities to help the W3C maintain and grow validation services.

That we’ve had the use of validation tools via the W3C for so long and without cost has been a significant component in the teaching and evangelism surrounding Web standards and best practices. To lose these tools would impact that message, not to mention take a certain amount of quality assurance away from the process.

For more information about the validator services concern or to become involved, please visit the W3C Validator Donation Program page.

Filed under:   announcement, community, professional, society, software, standards, w3c
Posted by:   Molly | 12:37 | Comments (85)

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Registration for January HTML Course Open

The HTML 4.01 Foundations course is available in a new format for January!

Read all about it and get signed up at WebWithMolly. If you have any questions or concerns you can ask them here or at the email provided on the sign-up page.

New year, new fun

Filed under:   accessibility, announcement, browsers, microsoft, professional, software, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 14:03 | Comments (30)

Monday 8 December 2008

Ooh, Look, Standards ROI at Microsoft!

Here’s a little ditty I whipped up for the fab folks at MIX for your non-standard awareness enjoyment. A nice quick read and something to take to the boss, too!

Check out “Where the ROI is” and leave a nice note to Microsoft and MIX for not just wanting this sort of material, but actually asking for it.

Maybe, just maybe I left a little mark on the Microsoft wall as I tumbled out the door in June?

Filed under:   MIX09, community, microsoft, professional, standards, w3c, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 14:51 | Comments (17)

Sunday 7 December 2008

Web Courses Update: Minor Model Change

Just to let folks know we’ve had a small group of people for the first class testing the system.

I’ve decided to make some changes that will allow more people access to the classes and live support by modifying the model slightly as follows:

• Students will be able to self-study any time
• I will have live discussion groups three days a week at diverse times to accommodate international student time concerns and so on.

The other advantage of this is there can be more courses going on at once too. The costs will remain the same for typical courses.

More info soon!

Filed under:   announcement, professional, software, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 12:26 | Comments Off

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Finally, Affordable Web Training!

Finally, Web design and development courses that you can do right from the comfort of your own home! After years of traveling the world doing workshops and presentations, I’m getting a little world-weary and would like to focus more on teaching rather than the latest and greatest in best packing techniques!

This is not to say you won’t see me at public venues, because you will. But after years of providing a variety of educational materials I’m finally going to try out something that will make learning fun and affordable, and bring me some income without having to get out of my pajamas (I really like my pajamas).

I’m building a new site dedicated to providing beginning, intermediate, advanced and expert-level courses in HTML, XHTML, CSS, Web Design, Universal (Accessible) Design, Project Management, Content Development and a range of other topics.

Course features include:

• Live, direct teaching with me via chat (typical courses run 1 hour per week and are based on a day/time agreeable to all students)
• Small courses: Only six total students per course, plus 1 intern
• 1/2 hour one-on-one assessment chat at end of course
• 24/7 moderated forums
• PDF and HTML-based course material
• Course slides where appropriate
• Articles and helpful resource packet for all registered students
• A certificate of completion (upon completion of course!)
• Books, software and other awesome schwag as available

Course costs:

Each five week course (described above) costs 125.00 USD. This amount is non-refundable, but if you miss a session or are unable to make a course, you will be re-scheduled as soon as possible. Course payment: Payment is in advance via PayPal. You may also use direct deposit transfers or certified checks if you prefer, just let me know privately. There are other course types in the running, as well as one-on-one courses, full day workshop intensives and courses taught by others.

Internetships:

Each course can accommodate up to one intern. Internships are really scholarships, the intern must come from circumstances that prohibit payment, show strong initiative, and have excellent online skills. Additional internships are available for folks interested in answering questions and monitoring forums. Please respond directly to me mollyatmollydotcom if you want to be considered for an internship.

Inaugural course: HTML 4.01 Foundations

Whether hand-coding or using applications such as Dreamweaver or Expression Web, understanding HTML (and how browsers understand it too!) gives designers and developers the ability to problem solve and innovate.

This course provides students with a comprehensive study of HTML as a language. From DOCTYPEs and DTD’s to syntax and semantics, participants will take from this course a very strong understanding of HTML.

The course is limited to a total of six (6) registered attendees, plus 1 intern. It is taught directly by me and will commence Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at a time agreed upon by all attendees (due to global nature of course).

Students should have some familiarity with HTML and general Web design.

Talk to yer Mols

If you have interest in this course, or are interested in future courses, please post in the comments.

Filed under:   announcement, professional, standards, w3c, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 09:09 | Comments (53)

Thursday 6 November 2008

Clarifying a Web Standards Workflow

During a session this week at the fantastic MexicoWeb2.0, an attendee asked me if I had any recommended process for working with Web standards.

Workflow and process has been a particularly difficult area to address, mostly because every company or organization has a different culture. Sometimes you have designers and developers working together, sometimes they exist on opposite ends of an enormous corporate campus. And sometimes it’s just a small shop that has to be agile and responsive to a wide range of client demands.

I had to express my frustration at the fact that after years of trying different workflow options, I still don’t know the magic answer to this question! Working with others in the field, I have promoted a number of ideas, none of which seem to fit broader needs. Clearly, each of these ideas have fabulous merit and insight, and much is to be learned from them.

Existing Process Ideas

Examining the problem early on, Eric Meyer suggested using markup and CSS for the wireframe process. This was an idea that intrigued me and we both promoted it for some time via workshops together and apart (oops, that’s a pun!) Later, when working with Andy Clarke on the inspirational book “Transcending CSS” the idea of an interactive prototype emerged. Essentially, this is a maturing of the workflow process originally described by Eric and others but built to include interaction design.

The big disconnect that I keep finding in these models is the integration of the prototype visual design, the wireframe, and the interaction design. In today’s application-hungry Web environment, interaction plays an enormous role, but is often left until after the design is sliced n’ diced n’ marked n’ styled. And we all know that using graphic prototypes to define interaction can be ridiculously time consuming. This is especially true in large institutions with separation between designers, interaction designers, and front end developers.

Find the Missing Puzzle Piece

So where’s the missing piece? One best practice that has emerged is that we start at the beginning of a project with all the issues: Usability, accessibility, media targeting (screen, print, handheld, etc.), information architecture and so on. This is really the process of discovery, which is well-established in media and graphic design workflows. After that, in the ideal, we move on to actual development: designers design prototypes, this goes to either a graphic or markup-based wireframe, and interaction is added at some point in the process.

The general ideas we toy with in Web Standards workflows of this nature are intriguing, but rarely practical. How many times do we really come into a project in nascent form? Most Web workers are fixing what’s broken or adding to existing infrastructure, although in the area of Web application development we do see some opportunity to begin the beguine, as it were.

Clarifying Workflow Concerns

I’m very interested in how different folks address the workflow issue, and if in fact anyone feels they have developed a process that might be considered a global best practice (even if it’s modified for a given situation). Some specific questions I would like to clarify include:

• Should graphic prototyping be the first step after discovery?
• How do we introduce interaction design into a wireframe early and conveniently?
• How do we cleanly move between graphic design and code requirements (a big question, I think!)
• Is it even possible to think there’s a meta-process available, or should we create each process based on each situation?

And of course, most importantly, your thoughts and experiences on this topic in general will be very helpful.

Filed under:   molly asks you, professional, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 11:15 | Comments (42)

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Educational Pathways for Web Professionals

Somehow I missed this WOW Tech Minute interview where I discuss with Bill Cullifer education pathways for Web designers and developers. In particular, I’m interested in and discuss how “hybrid” minds develop and evolve. There’s video, audio and text available.

Let me know your thoughts!

Filed under:   community, professional, society, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 15:15 | Comments (24)

Tuesday 23 September 2008

Web Standards 2008: Three Circles of Hell

Over on A List Apart there’s a recent article of my musings of the current state of Web affairs. Check out the Three Circles of Hell and take some time to share your thoughts and opinions!

Filed under:   WaSP, accessibility, ajax, announcement, browsers, how we will be, javascript, microsoft, molly asks you, professional, standards, w3c, web design and development, whatwg
Posted by:   Molly | 08:29 | Comments Off

Friday 12 September 2008

Accessibility Storm Hits Texas: Millions Jeopardized

While Hurricane Ike’s eye hovers over Galveston, and the country has basically come to a standstill as planes are grounded and people (myself included) can’t get home to loved ones until the storms pass, there is an equally disturbing issue that’s surfaced in recent weeks regarding the acclaimed University of Texas.

This year, the world lost a great leader in John Slatin, who along with colleagues was able to create the Accessibility Institute at the University of Texas and make real inroads in training people about accessibility and universal design.

It appears that the University of Texas would like to honor his memory by dismantling one of the highlights of John’s life works. To lose such an institute at this time demeans whatever progress has been made in the light of accessibility.

Universal access is something we cannot afford to stop worrying about. Our communications systems rely on our ability, no matter our ability, to communicate need.

During a time so frightening and confusing as a massive hurricane like Ike, nothing seems to shine a brighter light on this important facet of our daily lives. With universal access, many people will be empowered to get help more efficiently. Without it, certain individuals will be locked out of some of those resources.

That the University of Texas could even consider dropping such a core and critical program is tragic. The act removes educational resources that in turn create the resources that can help us all during difficult times as well as those more pleasant.

Please raise your voice and request that the Accessibility Institute be reopened! Sign the petition at Save The Institute.

Stay safe, Texas. And do the right thing.

Filed under:   accessibility, announcement, community, how we will be, policies, professional, society, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 23:21 | Comments (16)

Friday 5 September 2008

Core CSS Part I Reference

Along with the good folks at DZone, I’ve been working on a series of reference cards. Refcardz are “cheat sheets” that offer quick but key aspects of various languages, techniques and methodologies. The first of my three part Core CSS reference is available for free download to registered members (registration is free too, of course) and there are very stylin’ print versions of the cards available as well.

“In this foundational reference card, you’ll find not only a bit of history and rationale for use, rule structure and syntax, but also a thorough resource as to the Cascade, inheritance and specificity – core principles of CSS that will expand and strengthen your professional ability to work with CSS.

Features include CSS Rationale and Use, Understanding Style Rule Syntax, Inheritance, Style Sheet Types, Application Hierarchy and Sort Order, Hot Tips and more.”

Special thanks to Ross Bruniges, Norm Francis, Bryan Veloso and Dan Rubin for their review assistance. Any errors or flaws in logic remain mine alone

I hope you find this reference useful!

Filed under:   announcement, professional, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 22:32 | Comments (43)

Saturday 23 August 2008

Web Standards is a Goal

Interview with me about Web standards and design at Design Interviews in which I mete out advice I should apply to myself (isn’t it easier to give it?)

“Embrace change, value life-long learning, allow your passions to show and if at any moment you are no longer having fun or gaining something personally important from doing this important work, step back for a bit and re-evaluate.”

There’s some other interesting material up on the growing site that is really useful for Web designers and developers, too.

Filed under:   community, creativity, general, professional, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 14:17 | Comments (24)

Thursday 21 August 2008

Web Typography: The Pain Will Persist

. . . unless existing and new open source font projects gain momentum and critical mass.

Filed under:   microthought, molly asks you, professional, software, w3c, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 17:57 | Comments (25)

Saturday 12 July 2008

Web Standards Curriculum at Opera: A+

Just read Chris Mills’ opening words in his introduction to the newly launched Web Standards Curriculum at Opera and you’ll immediately know that this is material brought to us with great passion as well as experience.

Reading through what’s currently available (mostly “standards” philosophy and HTML so far) has been pretty amazing. The content has been organized by Mills, but authored by a variety of very strong and experienced real-world developers including Mark Norman Francis, Christian Heilmann, Linda Goin and Paul Haine.

The impressive aspect of the curriculum as it is now is that it’s comprehensive, including foundational topics such as Internet and Web history and evolution. Educators understand that history provides context for real learning. Sadly, this is an area often not available in books and online tutorials because readers typically want to dive right in and learn a given technique.

I’ve long held as a core belief that proper education includes those details. What good is a technique without context?

I applaud Opera Software, and Chris Mills, and all who are working so hard to create a really well-organized, well-crafted and completely free series addressing both the conceptual and pragmatic.

Well done, my Operatic friends! You get an A+.

Filed under:   announcement, community, professional, standards, web design and development
Posted by:   Molly | 01:31 | Comments (10)