HTML5: This is the latest HTML format being implemented on the Internet. It is based on the HTML 4.0 foundation but ad’s instructions for how content is presented by different browsers including the wide-open mobile browser market. The influx of hand-held devices including smart phones and tablets has given rise to the need for flexible browser applications that can deliver content on these devices. Websites must also be flexible in design to accommodate the many different screens web content is viewed on. With an emphasis on open-source content delivery, HTML5′s streamlined code and new tags promises to be the change everyone has been waiting for by simplifying the coding process across various browsers.
So far all the major browsers such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Dolphin and Opera have quickly added updates to handle the new code and keep things running smoothly. YouTube and Facebook have become big supporter’s of HTML5 and have platforms to test it.
So far I like the code and I am already building sites that make use of it. As long as media formats like WebM and OGG keep up, it should allow the smooth delivery of open-source content in a better way for the browser to understand. I am taking some HTML5 and CSS courses at the W3 Schools online and I must say, it is not that bad. Some of us are not coders, I don’t consider myself a coder. But I have had to use code quite a bit regardless of the site building tool I am using mostly to add functionality. they have removed several old HTML tags and replaced them with new ones. Overall I think it was a good upgrade to a language that is long overdue.
The main changes I see being useful are to the media tags like <video> and <audio>. The end user won’t require a plugin anymore since the browser will check to see what format the end-user can play and present that version. With media being coded in WebM, OGG and Flash, the users browser determines the content version to be played based on the users browser, settings and plugins.
I can’t wait to see what else HTML5 has to offer as I continue to learn and implement the new version!
CSS: Known as Cascading Style Sheets, this code creates the “styles” we see on web pages. From the font style and size to the colors and tables, CSS is the tool used to give a web page style and format. A theme uses CSS to set up its layout and style and place restrictions inside of different page elements. Together HTML and CSS have allowed the web to become a beautiful place to explore. With considerations for user experience, navigation and functionality, style and formating, web pages have become easier to navigate and offer a lot more content than before.
With recent changes to the Internet in specific with the implementation of HTML5, CSS coding is in high demand along with its counterpart HTML. CSS is probably the second easiest web language to learn compared to others with HTML being the simplest. As I learn HTML5 and CSS I am beginning to see the power behind the page. What we see is not what the browser can see and most would be amazed at what coding is and does. How a computer works is still a mystery to most and the thought of one’s and zero’s giving us the functionality of computers is not an easily understood concept.
How HTML5 and CSS work is not a s important as the fact that it just does for me. I don’t need to know why weird symbols make a machine or piece of software do certain things, I just need to know what symbols to use to do a certain thing. For me, trying to figure the why it works is a distraction and I tend to focus on learning what is applicable to my work and interest. It would take a long time to learn every single piece of code in a software language but building a familiarity with the common foundational structure, tags and terms is key. I know from experience that the rest will come as you go and the dots will eventually connect to form the big picture.
I just think it is great to watch the Internet be reborn again and to see the the exciting new opportunities it is creating.
MySQL: SQL stands for Structured Query Language, this language allows us to access and manipulate databases which drive the many dynamic websites we see and visit daily on the Internet. The Relational Database Management System is the basis for all of the database management systems around such as MS SQL Server, IBM DB2, Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft Access. The amount of information being accessed and requested on the Internet at any given moment is incomprehensible and databases are the file cabinets this information is being stored and organized in. CMS programs like WordPress have database driven infrastructure that allows the website to present data based on relevancy such as date, category etc.
The demand for people who know how to create, edit and manage databases for web applications is definitely on the rise and a critical part of the growth and expansion happening to the Internet now. Most of us take this aspect for granted when we type in a query or request information on the web but think about how much information is stored across the Internet and within seconds usually, the information we request is found and presented.
As someone who is not considered a coder or a data-dog, I am starting to understand the relationship between the dynamic and social web interaction available on many different types of websites and how the database is behind the scenes allowing all of it to take place. SQL is the unsung hero of the dynamic website in a way. Only the developer truly knows the power behind the pages. I am now taking some basic SQL and PHP classes to better my understanding of the big picture.
PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor is a scripting language widely used on the Internet today. It runs on the server-side, not on the developers machine or the viewers machine. Wherever the website is hosted the PHP scripts reside there along with the other site files. PHP scripts run instructions and create dynamic interactivity with log-in pages, forms, forums and posts, storing member settings and information, etc. WordPress Themes use a lot of PHP scripting for example and the content for the WordPress site is stored in PHP file databases (SQL Databases).
Once you get in to modifying or customizing your WordPress Theme, you will quickly be introduced to PHP and CSS if you want to unleash the hidden power of your web pages and posts. PHP is not that hard actually, it is just another language to learn but when you start learning multiple web-related languages, it can be confusing jumping back and forth from HTML, CSS, SQL, SVG and PHP for example. This is why most web design and marketing firms are staffed really well and utilize contractors. It is a daunting task for one person to know everything and be capable of doing everything well.
A lot of designers and developers find themselves in this position, having to know a little bit about everything to keep up with the technology and changes as they come. But not having the team or budget to build a team, it can seem overwhelming at times designing the site, building elements and widgets, creating content, copy, editing and encoding images, video and audio, incorporating social media, setting up the server and bouncing between all of these programs and using several languages to complete a project. My hat is off and I applaud those like myself who do it all to get the job done, the one-man-band web designer and administrator.
The news about PHP and other languages being in high demand is good news and a wakeup call for those involved with web design and programming so I will be paying close attention to this trend and learning some new skills while refreshing some old ones!
Cloud Computing: This is the new buzzword on the Internet and it simply means that no matter where you are in the world and no matter what time it is, if you want to access your stuff, you can and from any compatible device. All of the business processes, computing infrastructure, computing power, applications and personal collaboration can be delivered to you as a service wherever and whenever you need. Your stuff is always floating above you in a cloud. This is the wave of the future as indicated by the biggest companies and corporations adapting to this technology.
The setup, IT and maintenance of these cloud-based systems is where
the attention is. The cloud is flexible, it can and must be adjusted to
user demand from time to time and this is where the demand for skills
comes in. With more and more responsibility and pressure on the service
end, companies must keep things running smoothly. this opens the door
for new skills and rekindles old ones as well
Forbes magazine put it this way:
Business and financial skills: Cloud computing proponents need to be able to make the business case for a cloud deployment, or to nix a cloud project that doesn’t meet these needs. They also need to be able to build a return on investment (ROI) case, and monitor and make judgment calls on metrics based on business performance versus the costs of supporting or subscribing to the cloud. Cloud computing is very much a powerful business tool, and business-savvy evangelists are needed to make it work for enterprises.Technical skills: While the types and extent of skills required on staff will depend on how much of the cloud will be built and managed in-house, there’s no question that the ability to build applications that can run quickly on the Internet prevail. The knowledge base would need to be heavily focused on Internet capabilities. Java and. NET framework skills may come to the forefront, as well as knowledge of virtualization. Knowledge of open-source tools and languages may also come into play as well.
Enterprise architecture and business needs analysis: Essential for laying out a road-map of what services – whether they are coming from IT or an outside provider – will be needed. Able to work with the business, speak the language of business, as well as work with IT professionals. An understanding of the principles of service-oriented architecture would go a long way.
Project management skills: Project management skills have been a necessity for some time with IT projects, which require marshaling people and a variety of resources from across the enterprise to agree on goals, establish time lines, and meet milestones in a timely manner. Unfortunately, as any IT veteran knows all too well, user preferences change, more deliverables are added and padded into the project (“scope creep”), and projects end up being delivered behind deadline and over budget. Since cloud computing offers end-users the potential to run wild with new requests for services, effective project management skills are needed to keep cloud projects from eventually costing far more than the on-premises systems they were designed to replace.
Contract and vendor negotiation: Working with cloud providers, able to negotiate service-level agreements, availability. Able to read the fine print in vendors’ contracts and call them on the carpet when things aren’t performing as planned. Who will step up to the plate and make the right noise when a cloud service goes down or is habitually under performing? Cloud makes vendors omnipresent in day-to-day operations, so individuals with training or savvy with vendor negotiating skills will be a must.
Security and compliance: An understanding of security protocols is essential, no matter what type of cloud is being deployed. Related to this is an understanding of mandates and regulations – such as Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, and the myriad of data-handling laws from the European Union to states within the United States.
Data integration and analysis skills: Data is more valuable than oil in today’s economy. But having actionable information on which to base business decision requires consistency and timeliness. Will data generated through cloud-based systems mesh seamlessly with on-premises ERP, data warehouse or other systems? Data professionals are in strong demand, and those who can design systems that can ingest Big Data from the cloud, or use the cloud to provide analytical environments.
Mobile app development and management: The rise of mobile devices in the workplace is part and parcel of the cloud phenomenon. In many cases, the move to cloud computing is being driven by the need to provide services that can be accessed by any and all devices, be they laptops or smartphones. There is strong demand for professionals who can build and deliver app’s that can reside in the cloud and reach employees, partners and customers anywhere and anytime.
JAVA J2(EE) Coding:
JAVA is running in almost everything from TV’s to DVD Players, Phones and Cameras, etc. This is a very technical skill set comprised of a thorough knowledge of the JAVA Platform and language. There are 3 different categories of JAVA, JAVA Micro Edition used mostly for handheld devices, the Standard Edition which is for general applications and the Enterprise Edition which J2EE falls under. J2EE is the more business oriented edition with robust features and capabilities allowing businesses to deliver complicated user and interface integration with ease.
This one is for the coder or computer “geek” who enjoys writing code and computer languages. The demand for these skills is very high as the Internet continues to evolve and implement new technologies. if you know JAVA, go ahead and learn J2EE. I’ve seen job listings for these positions and they pay pretty well. It is tedious work so you must enjoy it, but if interested check out the many courses available for JAVA.
IT Project Managers: There is currently very high demand for this skill set. Companies depend heavily on projects and spend big bucks to manage them. Although the salary for an IT project manager is often quite high, long hours and high stress are often part of the job. Often promoted from project engineer positions, project managers must possess excellent time-management, leadership and communication abilities to meet deadlines and budget constraints. this person must be extremely detail oriented and posses organizational skills above average.
An average skills set for this position would look something like this:
Responsible for enterprise-wide project management support of projects involving all areas of technology and trade, including but not limited to telephony (Sonus Networks, Avaya and Nortel), Carrier Circuits, Network Engineering WAN/MAN/LAN, Information Security, Server Hardware, and Database Administration. Accountable for combined yearly average project budget of $20 million. Follows PMI standards to manage projects through the project lifecycles of initiation, planning, execution and closure. Prepares project schedules and keeps data current in MS Project and Project Server. Leads the development of work-breakdown structures, develops project tracking and variance reports, assembles risk management plans and Work Effort documents and creates other project documentation in accordance with PMI Standards. Many documents were adopted by the department as best practices for project management.
Beyond working on and supervising a single project, IT Project Managers must be able to manage multiple projects and teams at once. A companies success or failure could come from poor project management so the pressure is tremendous for this position. the experience is a combination of technical training and certification or degree and years of production, manufacturing or engineering experience combined. With companies ever-adapting to an ever-changing technological society with varying degrees of user engagement and demand, project managers are key to on time delivery and implementation.
This was just a brief look at several skill sets expected to be in high demand for 2013 and beyond. Keeping up to date on technological trends could make the difference between having a job or not in this new era and job market. Tell me what you think..
Written by
Allan Whitney
Owner/Administrator
MindVisionMedia.net
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