1. The document discusses building web interfaces using Ruby on Rails. It covers useful Rails view helper techniques, plugins for adding helper and unobtrusive JavaScript functionality, and implementing common UI design patterns. 2. The handicraft_helper plugin allows building complex HTML structures more easily using a composite pattern. The handicraft_ujs plugin replaces Rails' default Ajax functionality with an unobtrusive JavaScript approach using jQuery. 3. The presentation demonstrates helper techniques, the two plugins, and implementing UI patterns like inline editing and sortable lists.