HTML5 Live Answers

Web standards are awesome!  From back in the days around the Adobe AIR launch, up to and including today, I continue to present regularly at conferences around web standards.  And there is so much to talk about these days.  Of late, I find myself immersed in canvas, local file access, CSS3 and more.  And I have an upcoming opportunity to talk about these topics at length in sessions at the HTML5 Live conferences being held in London, England on October 19 and New York, NY on November 1, 2011.

The thing I like about these events is that they are being organized by the community, for the community.  They focus not on web design, but on enterprise web application developers and architects.  I get to share the stage with esteemed industry thought leaders such as Christian Heilmann from Mozilla, Bruce Lawson from Opera, James Pearce from Sencha and more.  If you haven’t already registered, you owe it to yourself attend.  And the good news is that there’s still space available.

The organizers recently shot me a list of questions about my sessions, to share with attendees and those looking to attend.  So without further ado, here is my session description, and my answers.

Description

Learn about programming charts and graphs, animations, drawing applications and other early use-cases for the HTML5 canvas element.  Come explore the canvas API including shapes, styles, transformations, compositing, images and animation.  Along the way we’ll explore examples on both the frivolous and more practical sides of the scale.

Questions and Answers

Q. Tell us a little about what you will be talking about at HTML5 Live.

A. At a high level, I will be talking all about the canvas element, and the extensive API that goes along with it.  It’s that later part that can end up getting really deep, and indeed I think this talk will initially make attendees feel a bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole.  Once there’s a foundation of knowledge to build on however, we will take off on new, more comprehensive adventures with a wide variety of more sophisticated examples.

Q. What will people who attend your talk learn?

A. At a baseline, they will learn the fundamentals of using canvas.  I also hope that they will learn what kinds of new opportunities are opened up by this fantastic set of new capabilities.  There’s a whole new world of creative expression that can be accomplished with canvas, and I want to open attendees minds to the possibilities.

Q. What will they take away that they can apply right away?

A. Attendees will walk away with confidence that they can use, and rely on canvas for their next project. Hopefully they will also be able see web development problems in a new light, and find solutions in canvas.

Q. In your opinion, why should people attend HTML5 Live?

A. I present at, and attend, more conferences per year than I care to admit.  In talking with the HTML5 Live event organizers however, it feels like there will be a real sense of education and community throughout the day.  Those are always the best conference environments.  When attendees can take time to interact with one another, and the speakers in an open dialog, magic happens.

Q. Why is HTML5 exciting for web developers? Architects?

A. So many new APIs! What’s not to be excited about there?  New APIs mean new feature possibilities, or easier solutions to historical complex problems.  Or even better yet, ways to solve problems that were previously just not possible to solve with web standards.  And the best developers are always learning, always pushing the boundaries of themselves, and the technology which they yield.  All those APIs gives us all new opportunities to grow.

Q. Anything else you’d like to talk about?

A. I think some might find it odd to have Adobe, the Flash company, presenting at an HTML and/or web standards conference.  It is important to remember that Adobe has a long and bountiful history with web standards.  Adobe is also an active contributor to web standards proper, as well as various JavaScript frameworks.  At the end of the day, Adobe is about “Changing the world through digital experiences.”  And not on our terms but on yours.  We make tools to help you build the best experience possible – regardless of Flash, HTML, in-browser, out-of-browser, desktop, mobile, tablet, television, or any other screen.

Q. What are some of your favorite cigars?

A. Yes, I know it’s social faux pas to smoke these days, but for me, nothing beats kicking back with a nice cigar and a pour of single malt scotch (neat please).  Of late I’m finding myself particularly fond of Nicaraguan blends, so as you might imagine most of the new stuff coming from Drew Estates is a big favorite.  An Ashton Maduro is always an exquisitely constructed stick with a great taste.  I like the Illusione line across the board as well.  And Fuente has recently started shipping a great stick with a split wrapper that I’ve grown rather fond of enjoying.  On my list to explore further is the new Xikar line, HC Series.  Or, you know, when I’m in London, it’ll be anything Cuban.