Is HTML5 the Future of eLearning?
In the past few years we have seen the rise of the Apple (iPhone/iPod/iPad) vs. Adobe (Flash) wars. For many reasons (that I don’t agree with), Apple doesn’t seem to want Flash to be enabled in their mobile devices even though many websites rely on the technology to deliver interactive experiences.
Accessibility (for users with disabilities) is also a challenge when using Flash to create interactions in websites in general and in eLearning courses.
HTML5 seems to solve some of these problems by allowing universal access to interactive screens that you would normally see only in Flash. See these HTML5 interactions by Remy Sharp.
Now, a simple question (maybe not so): are eLearning professionals going to embrace HTML5 and wean from Flash altogether?
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
Hi Adam.
Thanks for sharing.
This part of the article you reference is strikingly elucidative of the future of mobile devices (if not all Web-enabled devices) as we move toward an adoption of open standards:
“Though the operating system for the iPhone, iPod and iPad is proprietary, we strongly believe that all standards pertaining to the web should be open. Rather than use Flash, Apple has adopted HTML5, CSS and JavaScript – all open standards. Apple’s mobile devices all ship with high performance, low power implementations of these open standards. HTML5, the new web standard that has been adopted by Apple, Google and many others, lets web developers create advanced graphics, typography, animations and transitions without relying on third party browser plug-ins (like Flash). HTML5 is completely open and controlled by a standards committee, of which Apple is a member.”
What do you think is/will be the impact of such move toward open standards, technology and culture in Education?