Webtop

Definition

A webtop is a kind of rich internet application that runs in a web browser and that integrates various web-based applications.

“A web desktop or webtop is a network application system for integrating web applications into a web based work space. It is a virtual desktop on the web, running in a web browser as software. Web desktops often are characterized by an environment similar to that of Windows, Mac, or Linux, but are now considered to have much more functionality being dependent on the internet. Typical benefits include the ability to save work and settings over the internet rather than to the local desktop.” (Wikipedia, retrieved 10:45, 27 April 2007 (MEST)).

YouOs, for example, is defined as “new type of platform for web applications. We're trying to build a single place from which you can access your data, and run a multitude of applications, written by anyone in the YouOS network. Ultimately, we want the data and apps on YouOS to be accessible not only through any browser, but from any number of devices. Your stuff, anywhere, anytime, anyhow. It's still early, but that's our vision.” (A Clean 'Slate', retrieved 10:45, 27 April 2007 (MEST)).

According to M. Bangham ([1]), the term "Webtop" was coined as early as 1996 to characterize the migration of desktop applications to the browser. According to Wikipedia ([2]), Webtop was first introduced by the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) in 1993 for a web-based interface to their UNIX operating system. A webtop is also called web 2.0 start page (520 hits), Ajax homepage (59'800 hits), Web operation system or WebOS (3'270'000 hits) web desktop (276,000 hits) or a webtop (3,350,000 hits). (Google hits, 16:49, 26 April 2007 (MEST)).

See also virtual office and social software.

Architecture

Some technical features of a typical webtop:

1. It is started with a URL (no manual download, installation, or update process)
2. Usually good integration between the user's native browser and the Webtop application, including browser-oriented navigation tools (forward, backward), but one also could imagine applications that run in a sandbox (like Java Webstart).
3. Seamless communication with a central server using HTTP
4. Rich GUI (e.g., native look and feel, including smooth dynamic updates without requiring frequent page refreshes). Usually this is implemented with Ajax (but it also could mean Java, SVG, whatever)

Most webtops are AJAX applications.

The advantage of a webtop is access to a personalized desktop from any place and from several Web-supporting devices, no need to install and to maintain any applications, application sharing among users (i.e. groupware and social software support).

Disadvantages is that you don't know if you can trust the plateform and/or its components to stay around and so backup is also an issue. Then there may be security problems. Speed may an issue (both for client-server communication and GUI reactiveness).

In education

Webtops may have a huge potential in education.

Software Links

List of web 2.0 pages

See also the list in Web desktop (Wikipedia).

• Netvibes
• Protopage
• Start
• Webwag
• Pageflakes
• eyeOS
• XIN
• [Desktoptwo]
  • doesn't seem to exist yet (10:45, 27 April 2007 (MEST)).
• [ Oos]

• "My" components of older portals like MyYahoo, MyMSN, etc.

Installing your own server

• eyeOS (This system may be interesting to educational institutions, since you can install your own server and customize)

To sort out

• Flock, the social web browser
• Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. The PLE for PhD students ?
• More: Google Homepage, Clic!Dev, Computadora, eskobo, Favoor, HomePortals, Nowsy, ORCA Desktop, Windows Live, YouOS, YourMinis, Zimbio, Zoho Virtual Office, Firestoker, goowy, Joyent, Nsite.

Development tools

• Bungee. On-demand, web-based development environment that enables developers to build and deploy web apps that utilize the large variety of APIs and web services out on the Internet.

Links and References

• Web desktop (Wikipedia).

• Web operating system (Wikipedia).

• Rich Internet application (Wikipedia).

• Bungee Labs - Next Generation Web Development Platform

• Zelenka Anne (2007).Just don't call it a Web OS, Blog Entry

• Bangham, Michael (2006). Webtops: The Best of Desktop and Browser-Based Apps in One, DevX.com article, HTML.