Web 2.0 and Rich Internet Applications
By Carm Huntress, Co-Founder of GreetingsXpress
For the last year many Internet evangelists have been focused on the advent of Web 2.0 technologies. Finally, at a browser lever we are starting to see the development of software that goes beyond clunky HTML based interfaces. For developers it has been hard to manage the vast array of possibilities when it comes to client side compatibility, not to mention that we eat up large amounts of bandwidth every time we have to refresh a page of information even though all we needed was a small piece of data. Web 2.0 has promised the creation of rich desktop-like applications that run through your browser.
Technologies such as AJAX have gotten large amounts of press, mainly due to its use by Google and its very popular maps software. However, AJAX has yet to find a suitable set of standards for development and you still face the issues of client compatibility.
One major alternative in the marketplace that has been overlooked by many developers is the Macromedia Flex platform. In the last two years Macromedia has developed a Rich Internet Application platform that allows for rich client interfaces and asynchronous data transmission. Compared to confusing traditional time-line based Flash development, Flex uses its own form of xml called mxml. This has enabled developers to use standard development tools like CVS and separate development tasks in a more traditional way. Most importantly, clients only need the Flash player which encompasses 98% of browsers. Combine this with Actionscript and you have a very powerful development platform.
However, there are a few concerns when choosing this platform. You will have to spend time learning mxml as well as face major upfront costs to license the platform. This can turn many developers away as they might only be getting incremental improvements with a rich interface. Surprisingly, banks have been one of the major adopters of this technology because it allows for the real-time transmission of financial data, and this platform comes with a powerful set of charting tools. To see examples of the charting capabilities, go to
http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/flex/
example_apps.html#. For many developers who see the vast sea of copycat websites that all basically offer the same thing, Macromedia Flex is a great way to stand out to customers and make it easier for them to buy your products.
Another notable application includes a product called Cardvio. It’s still in beta, but it uses the Flex platform to allow users to select and customize real greeting cards that you print and send to recipient(s) of your choice. This is a great way to see the power of Flex as Cardvio has a very rich customization tool that allows you to drag and drop text and digital pictures anywhere on the greeting card. You can also see how data is dynamically updated. To visit the site, go to
http://www.cardvio.com.
It’s a challenging task to decide whether to jump into the Web 2.0 world, but for many developers the benefits to users strongly outweigh the cost and development time. To learn more about Macromedia Flex, go to
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flex.
Carm Huntress is an Electrical Engineer whose expertise includes Wireless and Handheld solutions, Web technologies, and technology innovation. The founder of Greenbeetle Technologies, which focuses on web technologies and was acquired in 2001. Mr. Huntress then formed, and served for 2 years as President of, TechnoMedia which specialized in wireless mobile calibration systems. TechnoMedia's core application streamlined calibration practices by implementing a wireless handheld solution for technicians to collect and transmit all data via wireless handheld devices.
He has also worked closely on product development teams as a principal interface with clients, meeting with project teams to ensure milestones and expectations were met or exceeded. As the primary liaison between customers, project teams and third-party suppliers, he facilitated communication and quality control on deliverables.
He can be reached at
carm@cardvio.com
