Presentation By:Presentation By:

Lindsay McCollumLindsay McCollum

Jenna LarsenJenna Larsen

Joe SoukupJoe Soukup

What is the W3C?What is the W3C?

The W3C is an international consortium run by a The W3C is an international consortium run by a full time staff of 67 people, W3C members, and full time staff of 67 people, W3C members, and the public. the public.

The people of the W3C work together to develop The people of the W3C work together to develop protocols, guidelines and standards for the World protocols, guidelines and standards for the World Wide Web.Wide Web.

W3C also is involved in education outreach, W3C also is involved in education outreach, software development and is an open forum for software development and is an open forum for discussion about the World Wide Web. discussion about the World Wide Web.

Mission StatementMission Statement

"To lead the World Wide Web to its full "To lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web"for the Web"..

An International ConsortiumAn International Consortium

IRCIM (France)IRCIM (France)• European Research Consortium for European Research Consortium for

Informatics and MathematicsInformatics and Mathematics MIT/CSAIL (USA)MIT/CSAIL (USA) Keio University (Japan)Keio University (Japan)

• is the Asian host for the W3C.is the Asian host for the W3C.

In the beginning…In the beginning…

There was no such thing as the web There was no such thing as the web Computers were not globally connectedComputers were not globally connected There were no set standards for how the There were no set standards for how the

internet would connect or workinternet would connect or work

Tim Berners-Lee (founder)Tim Berners-Lee (founder)

Tim invented the World Wide Web while Tim invented the World Wide Web while working at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland. working at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland.

He wrote the first WWW client, and the He wrote the first WWW client, and the first WWW server. first WWW server.

He also wrote most of the He also wrote most of the communications software defining URLs, communications software defining URLs, HTTP, and HTMLHTTP, and HTML

Why Tim Created W3CWhy Tim Created W3C

Wanted the internet to be Open Wanted the internet to be Open • To deter companies from licensing standardsTo deter companies from licensing standards• To share information To share information

Created shared Protocols and StandardsCreated shared Protocols and Standards• Language– HTMLLanguage– HTML• Protocol– HTTPProtocol– HTTP• Software– Web ServerSoftware– Web Server

Tim wanted the internet to work like Tim wanted the internet to work like Apple’s HyperCard files where all the cards Apple’s HyperCard files where all the cards were linked together were linked together• By linking all internet pages together, Tim By linking all internet pages together, Tim

created what we today call the Web.created what we today call the Web.

However…However…

Fears surfaced that companies would start Fears surfaced that companies would start licensing their own standards and licensing their own standards and protocols creating a monopolyprotocols creating a monopoly

Why we need W3CWhy we need W3C

Creates open standard for us so we don’t Creates open standard for us so we don’t have to pay or sign a license to use the have to pay or sign a license to use the internetinternet

We gain knowledge and value by sharing We gain knowledge and value by sharing information for free information for free

The internet is a community where The internet is a community where everyone is using the same standards and everyone is using the same standards and protocols making it easy to useprotocols making it easy to use

How Many Members are in the How Many Members are in the W3C?W3C?

Over 405 membersOver 405 members

Members include: Adobe systems, Members include: Adobe systems,

Cisco Systems, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Google, IBM, Microsoft,

Yahoo, Xerox, etc.,Yahoo, Xerox, etc.,

Why should companies become a Why should companies become a member?member?

3 Main Reasons3 Main Reasons

1. Leadership1. Leadership

- Technical influence over standards- Technical influence over standards

- Provide strategic direction of web- Provide strategic direction of web

- Extend your international outreach- Extend your international outreach

2. Promote Innovation2. Promote Innovation

- Introduce new ideas- Introduce new ideas

- Recognition of your organization’s - Recognition of your organization’s

contributions to the webcontributions to the web

- Ensures web standards can be - Ensures web standards can be

implemented royalty-freeimplemented royalty-free

3. Early insight 3. Early insight - Implement standards ahead of the marketImplement standards ahead of the market

- Help to coordinate technology Help to coordinate technology developmentdevelopment

- Allows access to information on emerging - Allows access to information on emerging technologies, markets, and prioritiestechnologies, markets, and priorities

Who Can Join the W3C?Who Can Join the W3C?

*Anyone can join**Anyone can join*

Recommended for companies who:Recommended for companies who:

Invest significant resources into Web technologiesInvest significant resources into Web technologies Use Web technologies as an enabling medium for Use Web technologies as an enabling medium for

your companyyour company Develop products based on W3C specificationsDevelop products based on W3C specifications

How can you become a member?How can you become a member?

Three basic stepsThree basic steps

1. Complete the application1. Complete the application

2. W3C then reviews your application2. W3C then reviews your application

3. If accepted, you then sign a 3. If accepted, you then sign a

contract agreementcontract agreement

How much does it cost to become a How much does it cost to become a member?member?

Costs varies by Country, and organizational typeCosts varies by Country, and organizational type

For the US:For the US:Organization Type in United States (country category HIC) Annual Fee for Memberships Starting 2006-04-01

For-profit organization that has annual gross revenue, as measured by the most recent audited statement, of greater than or equal to 200,000,000 USD.

63,500 USD

For-profit organization that has annual gross revenue, as measured by the most recent audited statement, of greater than or equal to 50,000,000 USD and less than 200,000,000 USD.

25,400 USD

All other organizations, including not-profit organizations and government agencies.

6,350 USD

Open StandardsOpen Standards

Called open standards because they can Called open standards because they can be customized, edited and used by anyone be customized, edited and used by anyone for free (similar to Linux).for free (similar to Linux).

Standards are implemented to enhance Standards are implemented to enhance the interoperability of the web and its the interoperability of the web and its components.components.

They ensure that all web technologies are They ensure that all web technologies are compatible with one another.compatible with one another.

Since 1994, W3C has published more than Since 1994, W3C has published more than 90 open standards (e.g. HTML and HTTP).90 open standards (e.g. HTML and HTTP).

How does a company submit its How does a company submit its idea to become a standard?idea to become a standard?

Idea from company or individual is Idea from company or individual is submitted to W3C members and director submitted to W3C members and director for recommendation. for recommendation.

After idea is recommended, it gets tested After idea is recommended, it gets tested for technical soundness and implement for technical soundness and implement ability.ability.

If it passes, goes to Advisory Committee If it passes, goes to Advisory Committee for final approval and gets implemented as for final approval and gets implemented as a working draft.a working draft.

How does a company submit its How does a company submit its idea to become a standard?idea to become a standard?

Working Drafts get submitted as Request Working Drafts get submitted as Request for Comments (RFCs) as well as a version for Comments (RFCs) as well as a version number.number.• People can comment on itPeople can comment on it

Working drafts may be updated, replaced Working drafts may be updated, replaced or obsolete at any time.or obsolete at any time.

Regulating the processRegulating the process

W3C Advisory board- governs W3C’s W3C Advisory board- governs W3C’s operations and describes the process that operations and describes the process that they follow. Also provides guidance on they follow. Also provides guidance on issues of strategy, management, legal issues of strategy, management, legal matters, process and conflict resolution.matters, process and conflict resolution.

W3C- Patent Policy- Is designed to:W3C- Patent Policy- Is designed to:• Facilitate recommendations.Facilitate recommendations.• Promote implementation on a royalty-free Promote implementation on a royalty-free

basis.basis.• Address issues related to patents (e.g. Address issues related to patents (e.g.

outdated technology).outdated technology).

3 Points to Remember3 Points to Remember

W3C is here to protect us from W3C is here to protect us from monopoliesmonopolies

Enables web users to have set web Enables web users to have set web standards and protocols to followstandards and protocols to follow

W3C enables the world to act as a W3C enables the world to act as a community and share information community and share information freelyfreely

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?