The RDF Working Group has published today a set of eight Resource Description Framework (RDF) Recommendations:

• “RDF 1.1 Concepts and Abstract Syntax” defines an abstract syntax (a data model) which serves to link all RDF-based languages and specifications. The abstract syntax has two key data structures: RDF graphs are sets of subject-predicate-object triples, where the elements may be IRIs, blank nodes, or datatyped literals. They are used to express descriptions of resources. RDF datasets are used to organize collections of RDF graphs, and comprise a default graph and zero or more named graphs.
• “RDF 1.1 Semantics” describes a precise semantics for the Resource Description Framework 1.1 and RDF Schema, and defines a number of distinct entailment regimes and corresponding patterns of entailment.
• “RDF Schema 1.1″ provides a data-modelling vocabulary for RDF data. RDF Schema is an extension of the basic RDF vocabulary.
• “RDF 1.1 Turtle: defines a textual syntax for RDF called Turtle that allows an RDF graph to be completely written in a compact and natural text form, with abbreviations for common usage patterns and datatypes. Turtle provides levels of compatibility with the N-Triples format as well as the triple pattern syntax of the SPARQL W3C Recommendation.
• “RDF 1.1 TriG RDF Dataset Language” defines a textual syntax for RDF called TriG that allows an RDF dataset to be completely written in a compact and natural text form, with abbreviations for common usage patterns and datatypes. TriG is an extension of the Turtle format.
• “RDF 1.1 N-Triples” is a line-based, plain text format for encoding an RDF graph.
• “RDF 1.1 N-Quads” is a line-based, plain text format for encoding an RDF dataset.
• “RDF 1.1 XML Syntax” defines an XML syntax for RDF called RDF/XML in terms of Namespaces in XML, the XML Information Set and XML Base.

Furthermore, the Working Group has also published four Working Group Notes:

• “RDF 1.1 Primer” provides a tutorial level introduction to RDF 1.1.
• The RDF 1.1 Concepts, Semantics, Schema, and XML Syntax documents supercede the RDF family of Recommendations as published in 2004. “What’s New in RDF 1.1″ provides a summary of the changes between the two versions of RDF.
• “RDF 1.1: On Semantics of RDF Datasets” presents some issues to be addressed when defining a formal semantics for datasets, as they have been discussed in the RDF 1.1 Working Group
• “RDF 1.1 Test Cases” lists the test suites and implementation reports for RDF 1.1 Semantics as well as the various serialization formats.

Learn more about the Data Activity.

The Web Applications Working Group has published a Working Draft of Gamepad. The Gamepad specification defines a low-level interface that represents gamepad devices. Currently, the only way for a gamepad to be used as input would be to emulate mouse or keyboard events, however this would lose information and require additional software outside of the user agent to accomplish emulation. The Gamepad API provides a solution to this problem by specifying interfaces that allow web applications to directly act on gamepad data. Learn more about the Rich Web Client Activity.

Registration just opened for W3C’s Mobile Web 2: Programming Applications online course. W3C is offering a special price for the duration of Mobile Web Congress, where W3C is exhibiting in Hall 8.1. The course starts 31 March 2014 and runs through 11 May. This course covers all techniques for programming successful mobile Web applications that can ship both online and in application stores. Participants have access to high quality content material and step-by-step instruction from expert – Niall Roche. Learn more about W3DevCampus, W3C’s online training for Web developers.

The Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Working Group invites implementation of the Candidate Recommendation of CSS Syntax Module Level 3. This module describes, in general terms, the basic structure and syntax of CSS stylesheets. It defines, in detail, the syntax and parsing of CSS – how to turn a stream of bytes into a meaningful stylesheet. CSS is a language for describing the rendering of structured documents (such as HTML and XML) on screen, on paper, in speech, etc. Learn more about the Style Activity.

The Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Working Group and the SVG Working Group invite implementation of the Candidate Recommendation of Compositing and Blending Level 1. Compositing describes how shapes of different elements are combined into a single image. There are various possible approaches for compositing. Previous versions of SVG and CSS used Simple Alpha Compositing. In this model, each element is rendered into its own buffer and is then merged with its backdrop using the Porter Duff source-over operator. This specification will define a new compositing model that expands upon the Simple Alpha Compositing model by offering: additional Porter Duff compositing operators; advanced blending modes which allow control of how colors mix in the areas where shapes overlap; compositing groups. In addition, this specification will define CSS properties for blending and group isolation and the properties of the ‘globalcompositeoperation’ attribute as defined in HTML Canvas 2D Context, Level 2. Learn more about the Style Activity and the Graphics Activity.

The Web Applications Working Group has published a Working Draft of The Screen Orientation API. The Screen Orientation API provides the ability to read the screen orientation state, to be informed when this state changes, and to be able to lock the screen orientation to a specific state. Learn more about the Rich Web Client Activity.

The Device APIs Working Group has published a Working Draft of Network Service Discovery. This specification defines a mechanism for an HTML document to discover and subsequently communicate with HTTP-based services advertised via common discovery protocols within the current network. Learn more about the Ubiquitous Web Applications Activity.

The Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Working Group has published two First Public Working Drafts today:

• CSS Font Loading Module Level 3. This CSS module describes events and interfaces used for dynamically loading font resources.
• CSS Display Module Level 3. This module contains the features of CSS relating to the display property and other box-generation details. CSS is a language for describing the rendering of structured documents (such as HTML and XML) on screen, on paper, in speech, etc.

Learn more about the Style Activity.

The Technical Architecture Group has published a Working Draft of Good Practices for Capability URLs. Capability URLs grant access to a resource to anyone who has the URL. There are times when this is useful, for example one-shot password reset URLs, but overuse can be problematic as URLs cannot generally be kept secret. This document provides some good practices for web developers who wish to incorporate capability URLs into their applications. Learn more about the Technical Architecture Group.

The HTML Working Group has published a Working Draft of Encrypted Media Extensions. This proposal extends HTMLMediaElement providing APIs to control playback of protected content. The API supports use cases ranging from simple clear key decryption to high value video (given an appropriate user agent implementation). License/key exchange is controlled by the application. This specification does not define a content protection or Digital Rights Management system. Rather, it defines a common API that may be used to discover, select and interact with such systems as well as with simpler content encryption systems. Learn more about the HTML Activity.

The Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Working Group has published a Working Draft of CSS Regions Module Level 1. The CSS Regions module allows content from one or more elements to flow through one or more boxes called CSS Regions, fragmented as defined in CSS3-BREAK. This module also defines CSSOM to expose both the inputs and outputs of this fragmentation. Learn more about the Style Activity.