Limitations of HTML Forms, Advantages of XForms

Limitations of HTML Forms, Advantages of XForms

According to developers, the most commonly cited problem with HTML forms is their
dependency on scripting languages. Real-world HTML forms are reliant on script to
accomplish many common tasks such as marking controls as required, performing
validations and calculations, displaying error messages, and managing dynamic layout.
This dependency results in complex documents, which are expensive and timeconsuming to maintain, since a full-time programmer is practically necessary when
dealing with that much script.
XForms helps reduce the need for script in several ways: by defining a framework for
simple, XPath-based calculations and validations, by providing better user feedback on
the status of the form, through dynamic features such as repeating tables and optional
sections, and through a system of XForms Actionselements that cause commonly
needed actions such as setting focus or changing a data value.
A second limitation of HTML forms is the difficulty of initializing form data, as
commonly happens when web sites "remember" past users and provide them the courtesy
of not having to repeatedly enter information. As shown earlier, each form control has its
own unique way of defining initial data, with small bits of initialization data spread all
across the document. This means that in order to process a blank form into a filled form,
either a new document needs to be constructed piece by piece, or an existing document
needs to be patched in numerous placesone of the reasons why template-replacement
facilities are commonly found in application servers. Constructing such forms is CPUintensive and leads to bottlenecks on high-volume servers.
A third limitation of HTML forms is that the encoding formats, urlencoded or multipart,
represent only "flat" data, or name/value pairs. Many types of forms, including purchase
orders, would benefit from a richer data representation.
XML is a better foundation for most business documents than a flattened set of names
and values. Since it has XML support as a fundamental requirement, XForms excels at
helping users create those kinds of documents.
More subtle, but still serious, is a fourth fundamental design flaw in HTML forms: a
hidden assumption of a one-step processfrom a client to a serverwith processing
finishing there. In the real world, forms often travel in more complicated paths. For
example, a vacation request form might go to a supervisor for approval, then to the
human resources department, and finally to accounting for final processing. Managing
HTML forms in such a workflow scenario involves reinterpreting the data format at every
stage. Perhaps this is one reason why HTML forms aren't commonly seen in use for
workflow.

As the HTML Working Group became increasingly aware of the limitations inherent in
HTML forms, they decided that they needed to develop a new, non-backward-compatible
specification for web forms. To do this, they formed a subgroup (which later became a
full Working Group) to define the requirements and begin the initial design work of
XForms. Ergonomics

Efficacy of Ergonomics
Historically, Ergonomics was another name for Human Factors. Today, Ergonomics
commonly refers to designing work environments for maximizing safety and efficiency.
Biometrics and Anthropometrics play a key role in this use of the word Ergonomics.
Engineering Psychology often has a specialty dealing with Workplace or Occupational
Ergonomics.
Companies once thought that there was a bottom-line tradeoff between safety and
efficiency. Now they embrace ergonomics because they have learned that designing a
safe work environment can also result in greater efficiency and productivity. Recently,
U.S. laws requiring a safe work environment have stimulated great interest in
Ergonomics - from ergonomic furniture to ergonomic training. But it is in the design of the
workplace as a whole where the greatest impact can be seen for both safety and
efficiency.
The easier it is to do a job, the more likely it is to see gains in productivity due to greater
efficiency. Analogously, the safer it is to do a job, the more likely it is to see gains in
productivity due to reduced time off for injury. Ergonomics can address both of these
issues concurrently by maximizing the workspace and equipment needed to do a job.

Ergonomics Expert Services

Usernomics can assist your company with all areas of ergonomics including: ergonomic
assessment, workplace design, and staff training. We can make your workplace safe,
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. We use quantitative methods to evaluate the workplace and determine those areas that
will most benefit from design and placement changes. Once the critical ergonomic hot

spots have been identified and evaluated, we can re-design the problem areas to
maximize the ergonomic impact. Finally, we can train your staff to self-monitor and
regulate their ergonomic environment. The objective is to meet compliance requirements
while increasing safety, efficiency, and productivity.
Our expertise covers a wide range of workplace environments including the office,
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Ergonomics

The science of the relationships between the worker and his/her work.
Ergonomics can be used to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and other health
conditions related to the job people do. Ergonomics also helps in improving
people's comfort, morale, productivity and quality.

ergonomics

- Ergonomics (from the Greek word ergon meaning work, and nomoi
meaning natural laws), is the science of refining the design of products to
optimize them for human use. Human characteristics, such as height,
weight, and proportions are considered, as well as information about human
hearing, sight, temperature preferences, and so on. Ergonomics is
sometimes known as human factors engineering.
Computers and related products, such as computer desks and chairs, are
frequently the focus of ergonomic design. A great number of people use
these products for extended periods of time -- such as the typical work day.
If these products are poorly designed or improperly adjusted for human use,
the person using them may suffer unnecessary fatigue, stress, and even
injury.

Fitting the work to the worker

Fitting the task to the person is what ergonomics is really about.
Good ergonomics:

Shortens learning times

Makes the job quicker with less fatigue
Improves care of machines
Reduces absenteeism
Reduces labor turnover and other signs of worker malcontent
Meets the requirements of health and safety legislation

Within management services various principles exist; for example,

work-place design
motion economy
rest allowances
job satisfaction and
environmental control

which have for at least 50 years been taught and applied on a semi-empirical basis, and
all of which are orientated around the worker.
Starting with the Industrial Fatigue Research Board in 1919, scientific advances in the
study of the human at work have shown that the application of scientific understanding of
anatomy, physiology and psychology results in improved productivity, thus ergonomists
will have received formal education at degree level in these subjects.
Although they may seek to operate directly on the shop floor or in the office, they will
often be naive concerning some of the harder facts of industrial and commercial life and
will therefore work much better via the management services department.
On the other hand some people in management services, in their lack of scientific
knowledge, try to apply commonsense solutions to ergonomic problems that
subsequently backfire on them.
Ergonomic principles are much better described in some books (e.g. Murrell (1965),
Grandjean (1969)) than in others. The main snag with many scientific authors is their lack
of industrial experience. Conversely many industrial writers have no formal scientific
training; their books are merely restatements of what they themselves have read
elsewhere.
This section will describe the application of ergonomics within a broad area of the
subject. Readers are recommended to consult books listed in the references (in the PDF

version) for a full description of ergonomics. There is no point in restating that which will
be found better written elsewhere.
It is important for the manager and supervisor to be conscious of the effect that the
application of ergonomics has in the average workplace. Ergonomic principles are
important in the constant search for productivity improvement.