RIA: Ajax

Watched this webcast

Building a Next Gen Web Experience w/ AJAX, XBAP, & Windows Presentation Foundation

today not so much that there is a pipeline around it now but because I think this will be a change catalyst for us in 2007. We are seeing strong client interest in UX as they begin to take their 1st generation browser applications and legacy systems to the next level … these technologies will dramatically change the options that UX professionals can offer to achieve a user goal.

With that said a few key thoughts:

1. Reach and Fidelity. I always watch how MSFT positions thier efforts … perhaps it is because they probably have a score or more marketing mbas running around per area … has to be some 100 watt bulbs in that group. Anyway, while the theme is always hidden a bit (marketing is far removed from these web casts) you can always pick it up (especially when the angle changes). Here I suspect they have decided that Rich Media, Usability, Rich Client experiences (2005 and before ways of positioning these types of tools) as angles aren’t getting business justification. However the balancing act between getting greater reach (everyone wants more people to use thier system) while not sacrificing experience (2nd driver) rings more strongly. Nice play on thier part. See below for more details on what this means.
2. Still weak examples. The demos and examples provided are still weak from a business perspective. Clients will need to appreciate the balance of keeping the reach they have today but desire the additional Fidelity these technologies could bring to those user groups. UX is that vechicle for defining value. Not an easy journey … but a worthy one.

Here are my rough notes:

Quote:

MSDN: Next Gen Web Experience w/ AJAX, XBAP, & Windows Presentation Foundation …………○ Gerald Walsh – Dev Evangelist …………○ Web 2.0 Focus ………… …………○ 1:00 Agenda ……………………§ Application Reach and Fidelity ……………………§ Tech Choices ……………………§ Web Platform ……………………§ ASP.NET 2.0 ……………………§ Atlas merging to ASP.NET ……………………§ Windows Presentation Foundation (XAML, WPS-E (beta), etc) …………○ 3:00 ……………………§ Reach. ………………………………□ Windows Apps. High Fidelity. Not High Reach ………………………………□ Web Apps. Low Fidelity. High Reach …………………………………………¨ (bauer comment-mentioned flash, flex, etc but dismissed) ……………………§ Options ………………………………□ Today: DHTML, HTML, Client Scripting, ASP.NET 2.0, Windows Forms (GDI+ based so there are limitations not vector based, 32 bit, etc) ………………………………□ Tommorow: ATLAS, AJAX, XBAP (Xaml Browser APps), WPF/e (WPF Everywhere .. Browser independant, avail in beta in coming months) …………○ 7:00 – Nice Chart of Reach vs Fidelity ……………………§ WPF/e will require download similar to flash ……………………§ XBAP requires windows platform for client (WinFX libraries) ……………………§ WinForms requires install (GDI+ libraries) …………○ 10:00 – Goals of Web Platform (according to MSFT) …………○ 11:00 – ASP.NET Features ……………………§ Services & APIs: Membership, Role Mgmt, Profiles, Config, Site Maps, Health Monitoring, etc ……………………§ Page Framework: Master Pages, Themes/Skins, Client Script, Compilation & Localization ……………………§ Controls: Data, Login, WebParts, etc …………○ 14:30 – ASP.NET “Atlas” ……………………§ In beta. New web server controls just released ……………………§ Not new. Based on AJAX. Avail since IE version 5.0 (ajax, allow client app to comm asynch). ……………………§ Simplify via: Client script libraries, webcontrols, etc ……………………§ 17:45 – AJAX Arch ………………………………□ Data island (reduce trips to server) ………………………………□ Behaviors (available in new set of controls from ATLAS) ……………………§ 21:10 – Demo of Atlas ………………………………□ GIS Mapping Service Example (ESRI for personal use if free) ………………………………□ (error) ………………………………□ 1st show browser version ………………………………□ 2nd show ATLAS version …………………………………………¨ Floating toolbar w/ data island …………………………………………¨ Show smooth zoom in w/o refresh ………………………………□ To do the conversion above 2 lines of code. Rest was ATLAS controls ……………………§ 27:00 – Example of Coding in ATLAS ………………………………□ Script manager (add to page) ……………………§ 29:30 – Another Example of ATLAS ………………………………□ Http://Local.live.com ………………………………□ (bauer comment ala google map) …………○ 31:00 – Windows Presentation Foundation ……………………§ Examples (could go over web) ………………………………□ Northface demo ………………………………□ MSFT Max (upload pictures and share) ………………………………□ Medical Sample ………………………………□ netFlix ……………………§ 32:30 – Overview ………………………………□ Leverages GPU (currently uses CPU) ………………………………□ Standard design lang (XAML) for designers which developers work from ……………………§ 34:00 – Approach ………………………………□ Unified UI, Docs, Media ………………………………□ New Infra (Vector, d3d, dev frameworks) ……………………§ 35:15 HTML to DHTML to WinFX ……………………§ 36:00 Arch Review ………………………………□ Windows current does work (OS) ………………………………□ Based on DirectX ………………………………□ Presentation Framework (sits on top) ……………………§ 38:00 – XAML ………………………………□ Tools: XAML Pad, Expression Interactive Designer, Visual Studio Code Name “Orcas” ………………………………□ XAML Example ……………………§ 40:00 – Media Mania (WPF website download) Demo ………………………………□ XAML based (buttons, animation effects, fades, etcs) ……………………§ 44:00 – XAML Pad Demo ………………………………□ (bauer comment: doesn’t look powerful like adobe) ……………………§ 45:30 – MSFT Expression Interactive Designer Demo ………………………………□ End of June/Early July other pieces coming out in BETA ………………………………□ HyperBar (like Mac) ………………………………□ http://www.microsoft.com/expression for downloads ……………………§ 49:00 – XBAP Overview ………………………………□ XBAP – XMAL Browser Application ………………………………□ Combines best of Web and Rich Client Apps ………………………………□ Deployed via click once ………………………………□ 51:00 – Demo …………………………………………¨ httP://www.mobiform/demos …………………………………………¨ Msft partner …………………………………………¨ Need winfx installed and .net framework …………○ 55:30 – Resources ……………………§ Atlas.asp.net ……………………§ http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/building/presentation/ ……………………§ http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/ ……………………§ www.asp.net …………○ 57:45 – QA ……………………§ How atlas interacts with page viewstate? Same ……………………§ WinXP can run XBAP but not native. ……………………§ How does windows GLASS get … Tim Smitths (sp?) BLOG talks about how