Rich Internet Applications
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Contents
Differences between RIAs and Traditional Web Applications. 4
Importance of RIAs in E-Learning. 5
Definitions
Rich Internet Application – A web application that provides rich graphical elements similar to desktop applications. These applications mostly consist of a single web page with that can dynamically fetch content from the server without necessitating a page reload.
E-Learning – Modern online learning tools and platforms that provide distance learning through web applications and other information technologies.
Introduction
The Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) provide users with graphical interfaces similar to desktop applications but on the web browser. RIAs’ primary idea is to provide a single page web application with interactive features for simple navigation and interaction with the content. Therefore, RIAs integrate traditional applications with the client-server application model to provide graphical features more efficiently [1]. Although fundamental abstract features that constitute RIAs are complex and loosely defined [2], several critical differences separate these applications from traditional web applications. The primary objective of this research paper is to investigate and discuss the significant differences between RIAs and traditional web applications. This research paper presents an analysis of the main differences between RIAs and traditional web applications based on existing literature. I reviewed the literature and presented the findings in the discussion below. The second section discusses the applications of RIAs in e-learning to illustrate the merits of this model of application development.
Differences between RIAs and Traditional Web Applications
The primary difference between RIAs and traditional web applications is the RIAs’ interactive nature that allows these applications to contain all their features on a single page [3]. Some of the significant differences between RIAs and traditional web applications include accessibility by search engines, communication, complexity, performance, and rich navigation [4]. RIAs require more complex search engine optimization techniques to enhance their visibility when compared to traditional web applications. RIAs present solutions to the constant transfer of duplicate web data over the client-server communication by allowing web pages to load specific content on the page without refreshing [3]. The metadata used by search engines, mostly found in the head section of a web page, remains constant throughout the RIA’s lifetime, making the searching of specific data in the body of the page challenging for search engine applications.
The difference in communication between traditional web applications and RIAs occurs in the synchronicity of page requests. Page-based traditional web applications communicate with the server synchronously every time a page request is made. However, RIAs can communicate with the server asynchronously through specific requests made inside the web page without necessitating a reload of the page or redirection to a new page. RIAs also provide distributed application capabilities where parts of the application run on the client machine while other sections run on the server [5]. The complexity involved in RIAs’ development and operation compared to traditional web application distinguishes these applications based on their architecture and functionality.
Performance and richness in navigation are interlinked properties of web applications that form the final difference between RIAs and the traditional web applications. RIAs present a shift in paradigm from artefact software to the software-as-a-service (SAAS) [5]. RIAs make it possible for users to access services from web applications traditionally reserved for desktop applications by using innovative components that provide rich interactions between the application and the server [3]. Traditional web applications mostly relied on static text content to present information and simple forms and other navigation components to enhance user interaction. However, RIAs’ introduction enriched the performance of web applications significantly, making it possible for IT companies to provide complex services online and across all platforms.
Importance of RIAs in E-Learning
These differences outlined in the previous section illuminate the most critical properties that distinguish RIAs from the legacy web applications and outline most of the merits that make this new model the future of client-server application development. However, the analysis of RIAs’ significance in E-Learning will provide more insights into the distinguishing properties of these applications and why they are preferred over traditional web applications. ROIAs rely on client-side events on the document object model (DOM), introducing new challenges for web-crawlers and search engines [6]. Despite these new challenges, most developers in the modern world prefer RIAs over traditional web applications due to the properties outlined above.
Modern e-learning relies on RIAs to enhance teaching and learning by leveraging these applications’ strengths, such as combining the lightweight nature of web applications and the richness of graphical desktop applications [7]. The increasing popularity of distance learning and online classrooms made e-learning a complementary learning model that required innovative solutions and interactive applications. RIAs provide interactive graphical features that make online classrooms richer in quality and avail different types of resources to the teachers and students immediately upon request. The distribution of functions over the server and client machines eases the load on the communication channels and the server [3], making the applications faster and more flexible. Combining the strengths of the interactive graphical interfaces, enhanced performance through task distributions and better communication models and techniques make RIAs significantly more suited for e-learning platforms than traditional web applications.
Human-computer interaction (HCI) forms the cornerstone for most e-learning platforms facilitated by multimedia annotation systems [7]. RIAs facilitate both synchronous and asynchronous HCI and provide efficient strategies for managing access to shared multimedia resources. This property of RIAs provides more proof that RIAs are the future of web applications. E-learning tools leverage all the beneficial RIAs’ beneficial properties to provide richer learning environments enhanced with multimedia resources and event-driven applications available in all platforms.
Conclusion
This research paper presented the differences between RIAs and traditional web applications based on the literature research conducted on the subject. RIAs provide rich graphical interfaces in web applications, similar to desktop apps. The research also clarified the complexity, performance, communication models and architectural differences between RIAs and traditional web applications. The final section of the research paper provided the practical applications of RIAs in e-learning, outlining the merits provided.
References
[1]K. Wakil, D. Jawawi and H. Rachmat, “Enhancing Interaction Flow Modeling Language Metamodels for Designing Features of Rich Internet Applications”, International Journal of Integrated Engineering, vol. 10, no. 6, 2018. Available: 10.30880/ijie.2018.10.06.013 [Accessed 7 October 2020].
[2]N. Dissanayake and G. Dias, “Delta Communication: The Power of the Rich Internet Applications”, International Journal of Future Computer and Communication, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 31-36, 2017. Available: 10.18178/ijfcc.2017.6.2.484 [Accessed 7 October 2020].
[3]R. Jiang, Q. Ruan, Q. Sun, S. Wan and X. Zhou, “Developing Rich Internet Application”, US 9,606.775 B2, 2017.
[4]S. Johnston, “Native Web Applications (NWA) vs Rich Internet Applications (RIA)”, Sam Johnston, 2009. [Online]. Available: https://samjohnston.org/2009/01/16/native-web-applications-nwa-vs-rich-internet-applications-ria/. [Accessed: 07- Oct- 2020].
[5]J. Kristiansson and K. Lundkvist, “Method and Arrangement for managing Persistent Rich Internet Applications”, US 2020/0159548 A1, 2020.
[6]S. Taheri, Distributed Crawling of Rich Internet Applications. 2015.
[7]R. Moldovan, B. Orza, D. Mihon, C. Porumb and S. Meza, “External Resource Annotation Framework and its applications in E-learning”, Interaction Design and Architecture(s) Journal, no. 31, pp. 86-97, 2016. [Accessed 7 October, 2020].