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About HTML5

For a 'new' standard, HTML5 has been around a long time; the first work started on it in 2004 and it may take a number of years before universal compliancee is achieved. Vested interests like Apple, Adobe & Microsoft have used the proposed standards to further their own ends; the future of Flash for example has generated much media coverage. But what does it mean for this website?

In a basic sense, it shouldn't make a great deal of difference! Most users will access the site through a modern web browser which already understands most of the coding, and will continue to evolve and incorporate new features as time goes on. The latest incarnations of Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 4 and Opera 11, depending upon which part of the standard is accessed, already claim high compliance. Even the recent past versions of these browsers should give a reasonable rendition of the website, albeit possibly with some display issues.

HTML5 builds upon the earlier standards of HTML4 & XHTML1, which the other associated websites in this group are based upon. However, the new coding is tidier and allows for addition of a number of new features, some of which are presently only possible by the use of third party add ons.

All this means that your web browser should display this website accurately and consistently, whichever one that you chose to use. However (there always is an however), it is a new standard and given past history, problems may occur. In practice to date this has certainly been the case with Internet Explorer (thank you Microsoft), but it is pleasing to say that this website has now tested satisfactorily on the latest versions of Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.