HTML5 Makes Web Pages More Interactive, Sets up the Semantic Web 3.0 of the Future, Business and Industry Trends Analysis

HTML5, an evolution of the computer language that underlies web sites, makes it easier for designers to embed interactive features into web pages.  HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language.  It defines the way a web page looks to users and how it reacts to their clicks.  HTML5 was eagerly awaited by web page designers, as the fifth generation of this vital tool.  It will lead to better, more meaningful search results and a richer, multimedia experience for web users.

For example, new tags in a web page’s source code, such as <header> and <section> enable the developer to better organize page content.  The end goal is what is widely referred to as the Semantic Web, an initiative started by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that is focused on improving the way users access online content by adding semantic metadata to content that will clearly define the relationships between data.  Users will get much better search results, and web site developers will be able to create pages that update results and content based on related data on-the-fly.  Data will automatically be shared across applications and across organizations.

Some of the more important advantages include the ability to embed audio and video elements directly in a web page’s code, or to enable the web browser to interact with both content on the web page and software applications stored in the user’s computer of smartphone.  This means that users won’t need to download plug-ins in order to listen to audio files, watch videos or enjoy other enhanced graphic and audio experiences.  This technology is generally referred to as RIA or Rich Internet Applications.  Previously, most multimedia content relied on “plug-in” applications such as Adobe Flash or Java.   This created many problems and challenges.  For example, Apple’s iPad tablet initially could not run Flash.  Also, now that HTML5 is widely used, users are able to access cloud-based content and web-based programs via any type of device (smartphone, tablet, PC, notebook, etc.), as the internet browser has become the common platform for virtually all activities.  This is a logical advancement of the cloud computing movement and the mobile access movement.

In October 2014, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) made its 5^th major revision for HTML5, in a document that spans 1,370 pages.  This represents eight years of effort, and brings a global level of agreement and definition for the future of the way the web will look and react for users of all types.  Many of its features and concepts are already working their way into popular web browsers.  For example, Google’s Chrome browser has some of its capabilities, such as video tags.  Chrome, Apple’s Safari browser, Opera and Mozilla’s Firefox all support HTML5 video to some degree.  Microsoft began using parts of HTML5 in its Internet Explorer 8.  Also, Microsoft’s Bing search engine uses parts of HTML5.