Tech Buzz : Rich Internet Application

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Rich Internet Applications

Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) are web applications that have many of the characteristics of desktop applications, typically delivered either by way of a site-specific browser, via a browser plug-in, or independently sandboxes or virtual machines. RIAs generally split the processing across the Internet/network divide by locating the user interface and related activity and capability on the client side, and the data manipulation and operation on the application server side.

Adobe Flash, Java, and Microsoft Silverlight are currently the three most common platforms.

Users generally need to install a software framework using the computer's operating system before launching the application, which typically downloads, updates, verifies and executes the RIA. This is the main differentiator from JavaScript-based alternatives like Ajax which use built-in browser functionality to implement comparable interfaces. While some consider such interfaces to be RIAs, some consider them competitors to RIAs and others, including Gartner, treat them as similar but separate technologies.

Why RIA?

• Users are dissatisfied with the capabilities and performance of simple HTML-based Web applications
  
• Need for desktop type interactions
  
• Bringing Interactivity & Intuitiveness Into Web Applications
  
• Adds complexity to design, develop, deploy and debug

Benefits of RIA

• Features that WOW the users
  
• Lot of processing can be off-loaded to the client
  
• Adoption spreads rapidly and dramatically
  
• Improved responsiveness and  platform independence
  
• Businesses have more reach to their offerings through Rich web applications.
  
• Deployments costs are minimal

Here are the statistics on RIA,

Examples

Checkout these sites which exhibits the features of RIA.

The Broadmoor   Make hotel reservations and see results immediately.

MINI USA  Design your own Mini and send it to the dealer. Nike Running  Log and see your training progress, and find the right shoes. E*TRADE Get fast stock quotes with no page reloads. Enter a ticker symbol in the Quotes module on the top right. New York Stock Exchange Experience market activity on the NYSE virtual trading floor. JENN-AIR Design your own refrigerator. FootJoy Find the right golf product to fit your needs. Dai Nippon Search for the right printer ribbon. Yankee Candle Quickly create a custom candle. Camera Finder Demo Find the perfect digital camera in seconds.

Regards,

Suman G