Standardization and Time-proofing
The Hypertext Markup Language (abbreviated to HTML hereon) is an application of ISO Standard 8879:1986 Information Processing Text and Office Systems; Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). As such it is a well established standard. Whilst it has been revised several times since its initial conception backward compatibility has been ensured at all stages and there is a commitment to continue backward compatibility in future revisions. Thus the HTML standard unlike many others has a significant level of inherent time-proofing.
Accessibility
HTML has been in use by the World Wide Web (WWW) global information initiative since 1990. The WWW is a massive, public domain, database of interconnected HTML pages. Special codes in these pages which describe the presentation of the document are interpreted by a 'browser' program on the user's computer. This program also allows the user to follow 'hyperlinks' to other pages which it will then automatically retrieve via the Internet from wherever that page may reside. By this process of following links the user can find their way to the information they need. The WWW is available to almost anyone with Internet connectivity - this, at present, includes most students and staff of universities in the UK as well as millions of other individuals throughout the world. HTML and the WWW combined, therefore provide an excellent way for collecting and then providing national and if desired, international, access to data.
Expandability
HTML is a very simple standard. HTML codes can be quickly and easily learnt and implemented. The system of hyperlinks allows for new data to be inserted into existing structures very easily - simply by inserting a link to the new data at some appropriate position in the existing data structure. This means that data collected and maintained at different geographical locations can be quickly and seamlessly linked to create a coherent whole. However for the data to have a consistent appearance and user interface there should be underlying generalised data structures and 'style guides' to work to.
Research proposal contents
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Page written and maintained by Ben Jefferson <bjefferson@web.classics.co.uk> - Last updated 13 March 1996