Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) deliver the power of desktop applications...across the internet, to all platforms.

RIAs are far more powerful than conventional "on-demand" Web applications. Pages don't have to be refreshed frequently to provide different information. There is a much larger range of very powerful, interactive screen objects (controls), like sortable grids, explorer "trees", true on-site tabs, dynamic graphs, etc. RIAs provide client-side filtering/validation. And, with drag-drop and other interactivity and animations, RIA pages come alive for users, with the browser or without.

Compared to Desktop Applications, the rich internet applications are instantaneously deployable and updateable without installation. There is full object-oriented programming power and client-server capability, but with a more rapid and less costly development process (than with C++ or Java, for example). And RIAs are more easily integrated with the full selection of web technologies and services now available.

These advanced capabilites give Rich Internet Applications the ability to drive significantly higher performance for organization internal and client-facing web applications--Higher web functionality and interactivity, Higher website stickiness and conversion, Higher customer service, resource productivity, and profit or mission value!

Comparison to Conventional Web Applications:

[EXAMPLES]

  Rich Internet Application technology provides:

• Full Power Desktop Controls, not available in conventional web apps

-- sortable, scrollable, editable Grids
-- true tabs, rather than false "tabs" that force full page refreshes from the server
-- explorer-like "tree" controls to let the user open up "folders" and drill into hierarchical information
-- interactive graphs, with clicks to see detail information...again, without a page refresh
-- slider panels, calendars, maps, many more advanced objects/widgets



• Client-side Filtering & Validation

-- user input can be checked, prior to submission, without a separate trip to the server



• Enhanced Interactivity (in addition to Desktop Controls listed above)

-- drag-drop within the application, (with AIR installed: drag-drop to other desktop apps)
-- true layered, overlappable objects and open layout--not locked into web "tables (td/tr)" layout
-- dialog, confirmation/notification panels, etc. not affected by pop-up blockers
-- user-movable and sizable objects (optional)
-- users can be permitted to add/modify objects at run-time
-- multiple configurations ("states") of screen layout, without page refresh



• Animation

-- "live" moving/changing objects and 3-D effects for a more engaging, intuitive user experience

Comparison to Desktop Applications:

  Rich Internet Application technology provides:

• Simple, Lower Cost Deployment... Across Platforms

-- no install required...launches in browser like any web page (AIR apps have "first-time only" installs)
-- single point for installation and maintenance (deployment and updates), on the web-server
-- automatic updates to the latest version (optional support for multiple versions, if preferred)



• Cross Platform

-- accessible from Windows, Mac, Linux...with identical, fully developer-controlled appearance!



• Full Object-Oriented, Client-Server Programming Power

-- full, easily implemented access to all major backends, for integration with existing systems
-- access to web services, xml, or direct, high-performance binary communication with Java, .NET, others



• Rapid, Lower Cost Development

-- more rapid, lower cost application development compared to C++, Java