Monday, March 12th @ 2:00 pm
Frances Berriman Volume
Michael Kaply IBM
Glenn Jones Creative Dir, Madgex
Tantek Çelik Chief Technologist, Technorati
Started at 2003 SXSW – XFN was created (Matt Mullenweg, Eric Meyers etc.)
2005 www.Microformats.org
Many (mainstream) sites now use microformats – Stanford uses hcard and hcal
Firefox operator extension a nice tool to get microformat information out of a site and see available microformated data in a site.
break out microformatted data to calendar or location to gmaps or addressbook etc.
Linkedin uses hresume format along w/hcard etc. allows you to break information out of a page and use elsewhere.
Backnetwork is about showing information (xfn) friends network. It takes conference data out to microformats
aggregates reviews etc.
One can also use to bring id’s for social networks profile info
All the current microformats have been created by an open community – they don’t end up with 1000’s because much research is done (by individual and community) when created a new format. The process for submitting on the web is necessary to see that something doesn’t already exist somewhere else or that it is needed.
Questions
Are there any microformats searches?
http://kitchen.technorati.com
http;//www.edgio.com (search & list/host, hlist)
Alexa is also caching hcard information found on sites
What about using microformats on a mobile device?
Treo handles via “add to addressbook”
Tails (plugin) sends via bluetooth
Accessibility issues with Microformats? Licensing?
there are some accessibility issues – more info here
working on a rellicense format (underway)
OpenID vs. hcard?
OpenID is more to claim a URL, hcard is more for profile info. There was talk of bringing together in OpenID 2.0, but another profile format isn’t necessary.
What does it take to get microformats on a site?
Drew McCleland has a DreamWeaver plugin
they are easy to create – plenty of tools available
What about spam when using microformats?
expose email only through microformat – use the same tools [at] to hid email addresses.
you’re only adding semantic info to already existing content – no different than what you have on your site already.