Rich internet application

Definition

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

Technology

• AJAX (Javascript + HTML + CSS + HTTP + XMLHTTPRequest calls). There are a number of available development frameworks
• AJAX3D
• Java applets or Java webstart applications
• Flash + tools like Adobe Flex and Apollo
• ActiveX Controls (only works with IE)
• XUL (only works with Mozilla-based browsers).

Examples

General (in this wiki)

• DITA Storm
• Through the web editors
• Virtual offices, (some, i.e. in the sense of Office 2.0)
• Webtops
• social software applications (most)

Specifically for education (in this wiki)

• Personal learning environments (maybe some)
• LAMS
• microworlds (some)

Other places to visit

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

Links and references

• Rich Internet application (Wikipedia).