The Hidden Power of Javascript

Michelle MinkoffMedill School of Journalism,

Northwestern University

Web-Language Triangle

• HTML – gives us the content• CSS – lays out the content• Javascript – lets user interact with the content– Uses tags like HTML and CSS– Always goes in the head• Easier to separate content

Javascript + mobile

• Supports these browsers:– Opera Mobile (>= 8.x, not Opera Mini)– Internet Explorer Mobile (WM 5.0/2003)– S60 3rd edition (WebKit/KHTML core)– Minimo (Gecko-based)– OpenWave (>=Mercury)– NetFront (>=3.4)– Safari Mobile (iPhone)

What kind of interactivity?

• Caution: Novice perspective ahead!• Coolest line of code so far:• <A HREF="javascript:javascript:history.go(-

1)">Click here to go back to search results.</A>

Google Viz API

• Data-driven apps drive exploration• Use mobile to kill time• Reach people where they want your content• Can explore nodes on a graph

Node Display

• Two lines:– Axis– Value

• Efficacy of popup depends on you!

Types of Charts

• Interactive chart types (not all-inclusive):• Bar (horizontal)• Column (vertical)• Pie• Scatterplot• Line• Dygraph (zoomable time series)

DEMO