September 23, 2008
Fine-tuning the mechanics of progressive enhancement. Rethinking the assumptions of standards-based design.
Web Standards 2008: Three Circles of Hell
by Molly E. Holzschlag
Q. Why did the semantic web cross the road?
A. @#$% you.
Standards promised to keep the web from fragmenting. But as the web standards movement advances in several directions at once, and as communication between those seeking to advance the web grows fractious, are our standards losing their relevance, and their ability to foster an accessible, interoperable web for all?
Test-Driven Progressive Enhancement
by Scott Jehl
Starting with semantic HTML, and layering enhancements using JavaScript and CSS, is supposed to create good experiences for all. Alas, enhancements still find their way to aging browsers and under-featured mobile devices that don't parse them properly. What's a developer to do? Scott Jehl makes the case for capabilities testing.
