Re: handhelds, and really scary

G'Day Barbara :-)

At 19:41 9/01/01 -0500, Barbara Money wrote:
>All I wanted to do was create something attractive and useful and easy
>to use, and now all this talk of XML, and WML (what is that, anyway?),
>and what Carol just said about web designers becoming redundant with all
>this simple WYSIWYG software around, life for a web designer is really
>scary.

Yep - it can get a bit much for a "Basics" list, but then - it helps to 
have an idea of just what other technologies are emerging.

>I think I'm too old to learn these new technologies (not really,
>it's more of a time factor, due to my day job), and anyway, I learn
>better in a structured classroom atmosphere than just a web class,
>though they have their own advantages.

XHTML was designed as an intermediate language to wean web programmers 
across from HTML to XML - basically flatten the learning curve and make it 
easier for us.  Long-term it will be XML, but most of the skills we learn 
with HTML are directly applicable.

The adherence of browser manufactures to standards should again simplify 
the learning curve.

>Heck, I still have yet to make use of Javascript (except in one redirect
>I did), and the intricacies of ASP and CGI and PHP are way beyond me.

I wouldn't say that!!  I think you will find PHP and ASP can actually be 
easier than Javascript - because the programming is done on the server you 
don't have to worry about as many "browser-specific" work-arounds.

>Is there still room (or need) for the simple, plain-vanilla web designer
>to make a few bucks doing sites for small businesses? Should I give up
>this business or make a valiant attempt to get with the program?

The conversion of websites across to XML will take quite a while.  Your 
"plain-vanilla web designer" will be required for some time to 
come.  However - as with any IT-related field - you have to keep learning 
if you want to stay current.  Learning from experience is great too (that's 
why I like these lists so much, you can draw upon the experiences of others :)

More important than your role as a standard web designer, are the skills 
you learn in that position - these are what you need to build upon.  None 
of us can tell you exactly what path to take, since we all have our own 
different talents and opportunities.

>I know, this isn't an advice column; I'm just looking to see a few
>opinions on what you think the trends are for such as myself.

We will always need graphic designers, programmers, database experts and 
content creators - there's my predictions :-)


Chris Higgs <c.higgs(at)landfood.unimelb.edu.au>
Institute of Land and Food Resources
University of Melbourne http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au

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