Rich Internet Applications (RIA)
Rich Internet Applications are online applications which got immersive, intuitive and interactive characteristics. As an extension for HTML pages, some of those browsers, desktop or plugin based technologies offer new options in presentation, linking and configuration of content.
Rich Internet Applications (RIA) are able to portray functions, haptic and comfort of classical desktop applications. It also has a broad application and the development efficiency of other web applications.
Adobe Flex & Flash
The flash plugin of Adobe Systems® made tons of interesting offers possible. The development of Flex® und Air® made those things even better. The programmatically development of flash based content offers new perspectives in creating applications similar to desktop applications.
Javascript, JQuery & AJAX
There are other options than picking Flex or Flash to improve the service technical aspect of a web application or to help operate more like an application. JavaScript helps rebuild the interface of HTML pages fundamentally. Due to higher demands the browser has to be a modern one.
Advantages of Rich Internet Apps
- Improvement of usability
RIAs do avoid continuous reloads of HTML sites. Usually there is only one user interface, which makes it easy to increase the productivity of the user. - Usage of the existing server infrastructure
RIAs are able to be installed on all running backend systems (PHP to Java) which reduce financial investments to a minimum. Investment and technology risks stay manageable. - Development efficiency
Open and well-defined standards as well as professional tools and components allow efficient production of RIAs. - Cost shifting into the client
The load normal websites carry on their servers is taken partly by RIAs on their own. The loads of the server infrastructure decrease, so as a result we have less traffic and lower demands to the server.