Tom Whittaker Satellites Education Conference XXVII Madison WI

Tom Whittaker Satellites & Education Conference XXVII Madison, WI USA July, 2014 FROM JAVA TO FLASH TO HTML 5 – CHASING TECHNOLOGIES TO CREATE APPLETS (WEBAPPS)

Interactive Applets � Does NOT mean clicking a button to move from static page to static page � Does NOT mean clicking or typing in answers � DOES mean: �Students use buttons, sliders, click-and-drag objects, etc. to change things �Students can explore ideas, concepts, limits

Examples

My work with Steve Ackerman � He is a teacher and an advocate � He is a techie-geek kind of person � He likes to try new ideas � He had a need to help students understand concepts in weather

What we needed � What software does “every” computer have? � What do we need to do to accomplish “interactivity” � In 1998, what software development environment claimed: Write Once, Run Everywhere

The first one: Java � Started small � “Native Widgets” – buttons, sliders, etc � Conceptual hurdle – Object Oriented � Applets run on the browser

What went wrong � “Native widgets” � Ever growing and expanding runtime � Some bad publicity about “security issues” � Memory limitations � “Native widgets”

So long, Java, it’s been nice knowing ya… � Why? �Widgets, widgets �Memory �Versions keep changing rules � Who do you turn to in the mid 2000 s? � Adobe and Action. Script 3 �Widgets look and feel the same �No memory issues �Oops – no multi-threading……. .

Meanwhile…. � Flash runs on 98% of all computers in the world…until… � Apple unleashes the i. Pad… �Students start buying and using them �Schools start buying them � 8 year olds start buying them �Steve Jobs: “No Flash and No Java” �“…but we have a solution…. ” � The HTML 5 revolution

Just what is “HTML 5”? �A stack of technologies: �HTML version 5 �CSS version 3 �Java. Script � Most important for us: the “canvas” element � CSS helps regularize widgets � Java. Script allows “programming” � Very efficient runtime

The “only” problem � HTML version 5 is still not approved by the W 3 C… � …but everyone (even Microsoft) has jumped on the bandwagon � Oh, and these are called “Web. Apps” now and not “Applets”

Java. Script grows up � Java. Script has been around since the mid 1990 s � It is not Java, but was influenced by the Java syntax � It was submitted for standardization in 1996 as “ECMAScript” ○ “Java. Script” is now a Trademark of Oracle Corporation � Browser makers did not always agree on function names, use, etc.

Why use it now? � Quite standardized � Not “owned” by anyone � Lots of support libraries � Easy development � Runtime engines are very fast (compile to native code) � Might be around for a few years

What are the issues? �A few cross-platform issues �Testing on PC/Mac browser vs. �Testing on Tablets vs. �Testing on phones � HTML 5 requires latest browsers � No standards for “touch” devices – but most browsers now use Apple’s approach

Where to get them… � Just “google” for: wxwise � Then click on the HTML 5 link � …or…