Rich internet application

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Definition[edit | edit source]

Rich Internet applications (RIA) are web applications that have the features and functionality of traditional desktop applications. RIAs typically transfer the processing necessary for the user interface to the Web client but keep the bulk of the data (i.e., maintaining the state of the program, the data etc) back on the application server. (Wikipedia,, retrieved 12:36, 27 April 2007 (MEST))

Technology and examples[edit | edit source]

Technology[edit | edit source]

"Core" web 2.0

AJAX (Javascript + HTML + CSS + HTTP + XMLHTTPRequest calls). There are a number of available development frameworks
Some server-side technology (same as for any web application)
web widget technology (APIs to integrate web applications into an organizing "page")

Plugins / webstart applications

Java applets or Java webstart applications
Flash + tools like Adobe Flex/Flash builder and ColdFusion

Browser extension technologies

XUL (only works with Mozilla-based browsers).
ActiveX Controls (only works with IE)

See browser extension

Other

AJAX3D
...

Ria categories[edit | edit source]

Virtual offices, (some, i.e. in the sense of Office 2.0)
Webtops
Web operating systems
web widgets (building bricks for webtops, virtual offices, etc.)
social software applications (most)
(some) educational technologies

Examples[edit | edit source]

(just some, rather look up categories above)

Editing

Specifically for education (in this wiki)

Personal learning environments (maybe some)
LAMS
microworlds (some)
e-learning 2.0

Other places to visit

List of rich Internet applications (Wikipedia)
Category:Web applications (Wikipedia).

In education[edit | edit source]

Rich internet applications have a lot of potential, in particular for "classroom education" since it frees the teacher from administrative redtape and the organization from installation and maintenance. See e-learning 2.0.

Software for development[edit | edit source]

There are different kinds of development sofware. Basically, all you need is knowledge of server-side and client-side scripting (e.g. PHP and DHTML). Client-side rendering can be done with any dynamic format (XHTML, SVG, SMIL, Flash, Java, etc.)

But there exist various frameworks to develop RIAs much faster, e.g here is very incomplete list:

AJAX-based

Laszlo (also deploys in Flash)
Dojo (for the client-side part only)
ZK Framework

Java client-side

Java applets and web start applications
Server-side can be anything, but many Java developers also use Java technology

Flash client-side and optionally Adobe server-side technology

Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR
[Adobe openscreen project], to deliver Flash/Air to all devices from a single source (if we understood right)

Microsoft's new "Internet foundation framework"

Microsoft Silverlight

Browser embedded

Some webbrowsers, e.g. Firefox (XUL) and Opera offer extension frameworks.

Other

More stuff needed ....

Links and references[edit | edit source]

Rich Internet application (Wikipedia).
Build Your Own Web 2.0 Application Using Fluff and Hot Air
Web 2.0 Can Be Dangerous..., Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox, December 17, 2007