Re: The UA is the new OS: redefining UA?

Hi Mark,

I like this defn - discussion - I had the same concerns re UA defns at:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-ua/2009OctDec/0012.html

I wonder how my attempts affect yours or vice-versa?

Cheers
Si.

=======================

Simon Harper
University of Manchester (UK)

More: http://simon.harper.name/about/card/


On 06/06/11 17:57, Markku Hakkinen wrote:
> Is the UA becoming the new OS?  Some developments to consider:
>
> "Windows 8 apps use the power of HTML5, tapping into the native
> capabilities of Windows using standard JavaScript and HTML to deliver
> new kinds of experiences." [1]
>
> "Webian Shell is a full screen web browser for devices that don't need
> a desktop... The idea of the Webian Shell project is to re-think your
> computer's interface as something much simpler which treats web
> applications as first class citizens and does away with all the
> un-necessary clutter." [2]
>
> "At the core of each Chromebook is the Chrome web browser. The web has
> millions of applications and billions of users." [3]
>
> Are there implications in this trend for UAAG?
>
> According to Google the ChromeOS accessibility support is via
> ChromeVox [4], a self-voicing browser extension for Chrome.
>
> Is it time to revisit the definition of UA? I believe we need to be
> more explicit about how the user agent is evolving beyond just a
> traditional Web browser.
>
> To make a start, I have taken the introductory text from the current
> draft [5] and revised it:
>
> "A user agent is any software that retrieves and presents Web content
> for end users or is implemented using Web technologies. User agents
> include Web browsers, media players, and plug-ins that help in
> retrieving, rendering and interacting with Web content.  The family of
> user agents also includes operating system shells, consumer
> electronics with Web-widgets, and stand-alone applications or embedded
> applications whose user interface is implemented as a combination of
> Web technologies."
>
> The definition of user agent [6] is also a candidate for revision:
>
> "A user agent is any software that retrieves, renders and facilitates
> end user interaction with Web content, or whose user interface is
> implemented using Web technologies."
>
> I throw this out for comment. Is this a needed revision?  Are there
> other suggestions?
>
> mark
>
> [1] http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2011/jun11/06-01corporatenews.aspx
>
> [2] http://webian.org/shell/
>
> [3] http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-kind-of-computer-chromebook.html
>
> [4] http://www.google.com/support/chromeos/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=177893
>
> [5] http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/2011/ED-UAAG20-20110525/#introduction
>
> [6] http://www.w3.org/WAI/UA/2011/ED-UAAG20-20110525/#def-user-agent
>

Received on Tuesday, 7 June 2011 07:08:36 UTC