HTML GIVES WAY TO XML - With its simple method of tagging information across multiple programs and platforms, XML (extensible markup language) is gaining wide popularity in the e-Learning sector. XML allows users to customize programs to work with their other applications or to integrate with a specific interface. A major challenge in the acceptance of XML is the lack of a data standard. E-Learning applications have previously been based on an Aviation Industry specification. This has now given way to the White House Office of Science and Technology's Shareable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM), which incorporates XML. (Federal Computer Week, 22 Jan 01)

SIX COMMON WEB SITE MISTAKES - An Inc. magazine article by Jan Gardner outlines what to avoid if a business wants a great Web site. The article is based on Inc. Web Awards 2000. The judges evaluated numerous small business sites and their comments revealed some common themes: 1) don't put form before function (don't let bells and whistles get in the way of the actual intent of the sites) and avoid annoying Flash intros; 2) don't simply put your company brochure online; 3) don't have features that do not work properly (constant messages make you look bad); 4) don't make life difficult for users. Try to avoid unnecessary features - like music - that slow your site unacceptably; 5) don't make it hard for people to buy (For example, some sites require visitors to make purchases over the phone); 6) don't inadequately measure the bottom-line impact of your site. Remember to take into account all the fixed and recurring costs of establishing a Web presence. CLICK http://www.inc.com/articles/details/O,,ART20883,00.html (infocus, a newsletter of UCEA, vol. 5 no 10)