George F. Colony of Forrester Research says it best: "The Executable Internet is a new software paradigm for the intertnet. Many people think the Internet and the Web are the same thing. They're not. The Internet is a piece of wire that goes from me to you and from me to 300 million other people in the world. The Web is software that I put on my end of the wire, and you put on your end -- allowing us to exchange information. While Web communications are conducted via the exchange of pages, the new software model will use executables (programs). What's the difference? Think of pages versus executables as the difference between reading a book and talking to a friend. Yes, all of those pages in the book are interesting and instructive. But you can't converse with a book the way you can with a friend. You can't cooperate with a book to perform a task. A book won't answer an unexpected question. The Web is like reading a book. An executable-powered Internet is like a two-way conversation. When you go to a site in the future, the server will send you a program that will load onto your PC (or Palm, or cell phone). Now you've got brains at both ends of the wire, resulting in a high-IQ, interactive, valuable conversation. Work is performed at both places, greatly increasing the richness of experience, the relevancy of content, and the amount that can get done."

Why is the Executable Internet needed?

The Executable Internet is a independent system software that provides a platform to uniformly deploy, launch, measure, and manage Internet–centric applications. It provides a rich graphical interface for the end user, and provides tools to measure and manage applications over the network, which benefits ASP's and IT administrators. The Executable Internet allows the full power of the Internet to be drawn down to any computing device by integrating Internet applications with local client applications, bypassing the limiting browsers that are prevalent today. The Executable Internet exploits the maximum potential of the computing device, improving productivity and reducing total operational costs. Compared to the desktop application systems, Internet–centric applications demand, and benefit from, a number of new capabilities. These applications require seamless and concurrent access to the Internet, intranets, and desktops. They also require the same ease–of–use as today's desktop applications.

Why is the browser not sufficient?

• Java is rapidly becoming the standard application development language.
• XML is evolving to become the new standard language for the Web.
• Most browser-based applications run on servers and do not utilize client power.
• Browser-based applications are slow and non-intuitive, e.g., the end-user must move serially through an application, thus working inefficiently.
• The 'look-and-feel' of browsers is typically different (less rich) than desktops.
• Desktops and other client devices are becoming more and more powerful.
• The Internet and desktops are diverging into separate silos of power that do not work together.
• Future applications will leverage both the Internet and the desktop.
• There is a need for central management and monitoring of these new applications, particularly in central IT organizations, and for ASP's that 'rent' applications.
• Today Java–supported devices are exploding into wireless and embedded systems, dwarfing the desktop environments.

How does Gladius go beyond the browser?

The new generation of applications will be different from today's desktop applications in many respects, such as portability and multi-computation modes of operation. The Gladius Difference:

MultiView:

MultiView user interaction is the norm when it comes to desktop-style rich applications. Unfortunately, the browser-based applications are inherently restricted to a page-by-page interface. Tomorrow's solutions, which will bring together the best of browsers and desktop, will provide desktop-style multiview interaction while keeping the thinness of browser-like platform.

MultiSource

Today's browser-environments force an application (e.g., applet) to communicate with one source (e.g., data-source) at a time. In a true connected world, end users will benefit enormously if they can avail themselves of MultiSource information (i.e., obtained from multiple sources). For example, a portfolio management application can obtain data from a stock-market as well as industry analysts and/or government projections, thus allowing end users to make far better informed decisions.

MultiComputation

Multicomputation refers to utilization of computation power where it matters most. Given the power of new client platforms (>3GHz, >0.5G memory, Gigabit bandwidth), many compute intense application can very well use that power for number crunching while keeping the servers busy with centralized operations.

MultiPlatform

MultiPlatform (i.e., OS-independent) solutions will be a must in the new global economy. OS-specific solutions are inherently constrained only for that particular OS whereas the well-connected global economy will demand a OS-neutral, or frictionless, solutions.

MultiAxis Communication

MultiAxis Communication refers to communication not only with webservices but also peer-to-peer. New solutions, such as instant messaging, need simultaneous seamless connectivity to server-based data as well as data on the edge and individuals.

Managed Centrally

Centrally managed code refers to hosting a application on a server and then streaming it to the clients as needed. This provides for best of both worlds - a thin client platform yet rich executional applications.

Monitoring and Measurement

Monitoring and measurement are essential to address security concerns. Security of code and data as well as the individuals who access these is critical. While single-signon kind of capabilities are critically important, they do not suffice in the extended enterprise. New industry-wide initiatives such as Liberty Alliance are essential and tomorrow's applications and solutions must integrate those also.

How do we contact you to create a custom Rich Internet Application app?

Please contact Apsora's professional services division at info@apsora.com for an indepth discussion on how we can meet your development needs.

How many custom apps have you built?

Following are some of the applications which leverage the new Executable Internet using Apsora's Gladius technology:

Turnkey Solutions:

• Enclavez™, a solution for global families to nurture strong bonds inspite of geographical distances. It is a first-of-its-kind onDemand rich-client solution for the consumer industry. (In beta tests; release in Q2/2006).

Custom Solutions (delivered by Apsora's Professional Solutions Group):

• ePRESCRIPTIONS:
• BENTARA: a non-profit agency solution for local youth organization

Partner Solutions:

• TurboScribe(tm): a comprehensive solution for patient and practice management, delivered by iMedX Corporation.

What is Gladius? If we build on Gladius, will you provide support?

Apsora's Gladius is revolutionary Operating System (OS) independent system software that provides a platform to uniformly deploy, launch, measure, and manage Internet–centric applications. It provides a rich graphical interface for the end user, and provides tools to measure and manage applications over the network, which benefits ASP's and IT administrators. Gladius allows the full power of the Internet to be drawn down to any computing device by integrating Internet applications with local client applications, bypassing the limiting browsers that are prevalent today. Gladius exploits the maximum potential of the computing device, improving productivity and reducing total operational costs. Gladius's OS-independence (via Java™) is a crucial factor for all – end–users, developers, solution providers, system administrators, business owners and managers.

Gladius was developed in Java™. Developers can use any Java software development kit to develop their own application. To integrate those applications with Gladius, each application needs to implement a small number of simple "interfaces". These are defined and described in a free SDK (Software Developer Kit). This SDK allows their Java applications to be easily integrated and deployed via CrossBow's rich user interface. Gladius allows these Internet–centric applications to be easily installed, regardless of whether the application is only on the client, only over the Internet, or distributed across both. Apsora also provides new developer–friendly mechanisms such as just–in–time debug trace, and remote code tracing.

Apsora can provide extensive developer support for Gladius, for more information, please contact info@apsora.com.

Does Apsora provide "hosting" for 3rd party Gladius-based applications?

Apsora does not currently provide "hosting" for 3rd part Gladius-based applications. Please contact us to explore the wide range of hosting solutions that may meet your needs.