This report was part of a university assignment on HTML5 and CSS3.

The report can be found by following this link: HTML5 and CSS3 Report and a page containing some examples of the new tags and their capabilities can be viewed on this page: HTML5 and CSS3 Examples (Warning: Not all examples work in certain browsers as of May 2011).

I plan on using WordPress as a CMS.

dvchiddy.com web site redesign

http://www.bristol-mediation.org/ ?

HTML5 & CSS3 Report ?

Dissertation

Well broken hands and illness, it is now time to push on with catching up on coursework, and my dissertation. Typing one handed was slower than I thought.

A currency converter developed for one module is now online here: Currency converter.

The converter currently has no frontend user interface as that is not a requirement of the assignment but no doubt I will develop a basic one.

The service uses a REST based architecture and all parameters are entered in the URI and is coded using PHP Object Orientated programming.

For example to convert $5 from US dollars to Pounds Sterling the URI looks as follows:

http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~dvchiddy/conv?amnt=5&from=USD&to=GBP

You can substitute the amount, from and to for(in bold above) what you wish as long as they are valid ISO types(Alphabetic) found here:
www.iso.org.

Update: Simple and very basic frontend – population of dropdown menus relies on UWE database being available.

After racking my brains for way longer than probably recommended I had initially come up with several rough ideas for my dissertation topic.

Some based around the growing trends on the web such as Social Media, others about my own personal love for the Mighty Tottenham Hotspur, online psychology and branding, HTML5 and online fraud and security.

Outline title ideas:

1. Effects of social media on business on the web(now and in future) – marketing, recruitment.
2. Has social media lessened the importance of SEO?
3. Marketing on the web and if it can be used to attract more fans and families to football games, lowering ticket prices.
4. Researching into openess of the web vs a regulated internet – online privacy.
5. Psychology on the web such as colours, consistency/familiarity, motivations, images to reinforce ideas.
6. How can websites help create brand identity and encourage customer loyalty.
7. HTML5 – Has it evolved from just being a markup language?
8. Online privacy – does it no longer exist?
9. Do online merchants such as Paypal really aid in preventing Fraud – How reliable and secure are they? Phishing.

Many ideas, and some broad subject areas which needed narrowing down to make them a workable dissertation topic, after discussion with tutors, and hours spent researching literature I have settled on a dissertation about online fraud, identity theft – although still not 100% decided on a direction to take this, I have plenty of literature to back up any arguments I put forward and have already discovered some interested if slightly worrying statistics.

The next step – Formal Proposal

Currently in progress, deadline 2pm Thursday 4th November 2010. My main aims for this are to define a clearer focus regarding the direction I take this, this in turn will help with my chapter structure, and I can hopefully begin writing my dissertation ASAP although with plenty of other coursework coming my way, time management will be essential.

Questions to answer

1. Types of Fraud and Scams?
2. What problem is highlighted?
3. Countries where Scams are happening more? Legislation in those countries?
4. Success Rate of Scams (ie. % of phishing mails responded to with sensitive information Vs. emails sent out)
5. Prevention methods – do they work?
6. Paypal – is it really as safe as they say?
7. Can it be controlled?
8. Impact on online businesses and consumer attitudes
9. How do Phishing sites fool consumers
10. Do they do it it for fun or profit?
11. Large corporations who spy and collect data (google?)
12. Case studies
13. The cost of fraud to online businesses?
14. Can it be prevented with technology or is it about educating people?

Upon drawing up my formal proposal I will look at drawing up a plan of action for myself which ensures I do at least the minimal work each week to enable myself to push towards a top quality dissertation.