Quickfix & Browser Discussion

In my blog article, "Fun-fun-FUNctions...with IE8", I offer a quick-fix for developers having JavaScript issues when creating content for Windows Internet Explorer 8 browser. While both the example and the workaround code is relative simple, there is a larger discussion at work here: browser compatibility.

Certainly, we developers may have a favorite or preferred browser to develop for, but in the end, our code must be malleable and flexible, able to 'live' inside whatever browser or environment our client(s) require.

Because our Team has many different clients, all with different browser/environment needs, we have become very proficient in the (at-times-not-so-simple) task of just 'making it [the project] work'.

Sometimes the solution is a quick-fix, like the in the article above; sometimes the solution is more involved and may require a complete re-writing of code...or (if we get lucky,) tracking down, learning, and using a new code-set or development tool.

Pay no attention to that
JS code behind the HTML page!

We make the magic happen, across many different platforms and settings. Yet, unlike that famed and faraway 'Wizard', we do not mind showing others what happens 'behind the curtain'.  We like to share and hope to learn from others that share with us, as well.

Feel free to share your tips, tricks, and workarounds with us so that we can all learn from each other...especially as more and more of us begin developing projects across multiple browsers. Tweet us: @mas_edev, @eLearnDevGeek, @damoEdev, or @gardelearndev.

Cheers!

Highlights From mLearnCon 2013

main stage at mLearnCon 2013

Despite being a "first-timer" to the Mobile Learning Conference and Expo (or "mLearnCon"), I thoroughly enjoyed my time.  Now that I have not only successfully attended the conference, but also given two presentations, I believe I qualify as a "seasoned veteran".  Maybe.  :)

So, with that in mind, here are some brief highlights from my interaction at mLearnCon 2013 (in no certain order).

Conference Backchannel
mLearnCon has created a wonderful way to follow the events, information, and thoughts of the presenters, vendors, and general attendees.  Fueled by attendees' Twitter hashtags, the backchannel provides great insight to the constantly-changing technological flavor of the conference.
This is further enhanced by Hashcaster (http://mlearncon.hashcaster.com/), "a real-time Twitter curation platform setup by your mLearnCon organizer to help you find the best content tweeted at mLearnCon and to help you easily identify and connect with top influencers."

mLearnCon2013 presentation #1

Presentation #1
Despite occurring immediately after lunch - making both the speaker and the audience slightly lethargic - my presentation was a success.
Attendees to "B.Y.O.L.: Touch & GO: Quickly Enhancing Lectora for Gesture-based Interaction" were able to get some technical tips on specific projects they had in mind.
Discussion continued even long after the presentation was over (...my apologies to the person presenting directly after me..!), as an attendee and I traded notes on 3D software and how to best implement JavaScript code for gestures in Lectora and other HTML5 projects.

Presentation #2
With a great turnout and good audience participation/interactions, "Nuff Said: Tips and Tricks from Digital Comics to Breathe Life into Your HTML5" went smashingly.
Several Tweets were fired off that focused on various aspects and info nuggets from this  presentation ... and another long discussion after the end made this event a great one to be part of.
Thanks to everyone that came out and contributed to the discussion.  You all rock!

And finally...

artsy...AND mysterious

Hotel paintings that make me think they're really QR codes
I still think it's a code...

Philly Download – My biggest takeaways from mLearning DevCon 2012

Philly Download – My biggest takeaways from mLearning DevCon 2012

I spent the better part of the past week in Philadelphia attending mLearning DevCon 2012 with Greg Gardner and Michael Sheyahshe.  Below is some of the great stuff I picked up on.  

Titanium Studio

Titanium Studio is  a free (depending on the licensing you chose) mobile development tool for creating content across multiple platforms – Very much like FlashBuilder.  My comparision is both a compliment and an insult.  It's complex, but then again a software package that publishes "native" apps to IOS, Android, Blackberry and WebOS was not going to be simple.  In addition to having a similar interface to FlashBuilder the code is very ActionScript like. So far it does not have the complexity of Sencha or the unfamiliar aspects of jQuery.  

I have been trying to get it up and running and have run into some snags. I contacted Jeff Batt of Rapid Intake who gave the presentation.  He provided a link from Lynda.com to help get me up and running.  I have only just started looking it over but seems like it will be a big help.

Before you can get to the tutorial though you will need to install.  That can be problematic.  There were a ton of updates to install before you could even get rolling.

Adobe Edge

Another cool tool I heard about at eLearningDevCon.  It's an HTML5 animation tool from Adobe that uses an interface a great deal like After Effects.  It does provide for interactivity, but just based on the whole timeline set up of the interface, it's an animation tool, not a heavy programming tool.  The best part is it's FREE! At least to try out.  I was able to pull up something at the conference about a licensing deal where if you signup now for the current version, that license will transfer over when a more official version come out.  Unfortunately I have not been able to navigate my way back.  All I can currently find is Edge available on Adobe's Creative Cloud.  You will need an Adobe ID to sign in.

Kwik 2

This is a cool plug-in for photoshop.  I don't see as much use for this but, I think it could be very useful for proof of concept and quick prototyping.  Kwik will turn a photoshop document into a mobile app, including events and gestures.  To me it's biggest strength is also it's biggest weakness - it's a PSD.  I think it's going to produce large files.  That said I have not had a chance to look at it very well.  You can get a free version that will support projects up to 6 pages.  Thanks to Orlando Rivera (http://digitalsummit.tv/) for cluing me in on this one.

http://www.kwiksher.com/news/introducing-kwik-2-beta/

Tin Can API

A more powerful, easier to use SCORM?  That's an idea I can get behind. This one might have the biggest implications but so far as I can tell it's also the most nebulous.  Tin Can API is the newest flavor of SCORM.  They did talk a lot about what it can do and the kind of things you can track now but both the keynote and the hands on sessions were light on "this is how you do it".  To me the idea of SCORM where you do not have to be connected to the LMS is pretty cool.  You can turn almost anything into something trackable.  Looks like they are using "activities" as the basis now.  I don't know how many action words they have set up but its based on things like learned, attended and that sort of thing.

I was able to learn a bit more about the API from the site but I am still digging into the details.

I also got my reeducation in mobile video courtesy of Nick Floro (http://nickfloro.com/). Biggest takeaway there?  That is was long overdue.

The low key conference was very interesting.  I learned a great deal .  Not so much actual techniques but just whats out there and tools I was not aware of.  Thanks so much to Jason Bickle, Rapid Intake, and all of the sponsors (including ICF) for putting on a very educational week.

Adventures at MLDC2012

mLearning DevCon 2012 (http://www.mlearningdevcon.com), happening in Philadephia, PA, October 2-5, 2012, is sure to be an exciting event this year with many great topics and speakers.  As we close on the final hours before the big event, ICF will be well-represented with three speakers and four topics.

Greg Gardner will present two separate topics:

• 10-03 S5 - How to skin mLearning content with your own CSS
• 10-05 S29 - Creating iBooks Content for iPad

Mike Raines will present:

• 10-03 S3 - A 'Flash' of Freshness: Repurposing Existing Flash Content for Use in Mobile

Michael Sheyahshe (that's me!) will present on:

• 10-04 S12 - Nuff Said: Tips/Tricks from Digital Comics to Breathe Life into Your HTML5 mLearning

Here's what you can expect to see with my 'Nuff Said' presentation topic:

• Stan Lee (well...not 'in the flesh', as it were...)
• Print Comics
• Digital Comics
• Comic Book 'Language'
• Theoretical Ideas of Visual Rhetoric/Presentation
• Comic Book 'Apps'
• The Hulk !
• The Android Logo (heh)
• Real-World HTML5 Examples
• JavaScript/jQuery Code
• Advanced Online Examples
• ...and so much more !

Be sure to join us at MLDC2012, if possible.  You can also follow our Philly adventures on Twitter: @mas_edev, @eLearnDevGeek, & @gardelearndev.  Excelsior !

HTML5 or Flash ?

Ok. I'll admit, right up front, that I'm not going to take sides on this one.  I've been a long-time developer using both HTML-based and Flash-based solutions. I'm quite comfortable using either technology to get the job done.

To use a mechanical analogy: Say you hand me either a pair of needle-nose pliers OR a pair of lineman's (or "combination") pliers. These are certainly different tools and have different functions...but, I can sure squeeze/pinch/etc. the heck out of something with either one. The same can be said for HTML5 or Flash; each have their own specific set of advantages, but both come in quite handy, when it comes to getting the job done, especially from a software solutions perspective.

A recent blog article on http://www.trainingindustry.com further discusses HTML5 and Flash's differences, but supports the above idea that either/both technologies work well. The article goes on to discuss "HTML5 in Learning Solutions" and highlights some advantages. Namely, Semantics, Multimedia, Graphics, Device access, and Offline Storage. I'd suggest viewing the article at http://www.trainingindustry.com/learning-technologies/articles/using-html5-in-learning-solutions.aspx to get the full description behind these.
One part of the article stands out to me, which I will quote here:

HTML5 in Learning Solutions: Collaborative Learning
There is yet another aspect to the learning equation and how HTML5 can play a role that is quite distinct in the world of learning solutions, with respect to social collaboration. Just about everyone is familiar with social networks these days and the benefits of staying connected in the personal and professional world. HTML5 makes it easy to build solutions around collaboration among a group of experts and learners. Collaboration in the online world is so powerful that it can change the way everything works.

I agree with much of this. Thinking towards social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or other, it becomes clear that we developers need to plan for implementation of these technologies, not matter what platform for which we are creating content. Take the JSFiddle example below, showing how easy it is to grab Tweets using jQuery. Click the 'Result' button to run the simple script.

 Of course, this is a rudimentary example, but think of the possibilities implementing the social aspect for our clients, as we deploy to desktop units or even mobile devices, using HTML5.  Certainly, I am not taking sides here - I will continue to use both Flash and/or HTML5 where needed...however, I use the example above to remind us, as developers, that we can continue to think past our current technological reach.


For now, we'll see how the comparison between the two solutions work out. I'd wager that both will be around for quite some time, for us to all argue over, even if one dies on the vine. (...I mean, there are still developers out there programming in Authorware, right?)