NPAC Technical Report SCCS-758
Snap, Crackle, WebWindows!
Geoffrey Fox, Wojtek Furmanski
Submitted March 26 1996
Abstract
We elaborate the SNAP -- Scalable (ATM) Network and (PC)
Platforms -- view of computing in the year 2000. The World Wide Web
will continue its rapid evolution, and in the future, applications will
not be written for Windows NT/95 or UNIX, but rather for WebWindows
with interfaces defined by the standards of Web servers and clients.
This universal environment will support WebTop productivity tools,
such as WebWord, WebLotus123, and WebNotes built in modular dynamic
fashion, and undermining the business model for large software
companies.
We define a layered WebWindows software architecture in which
applications are built on top of multi-use services. We discuss
examples including business enterprise systems (IntraNets),
health care, financial services and education. HPCC is implicit
throughout this discussion for there is no larger parallel system than
the World Wide metacomputer. We suggest building the MPP programming
environment in terms of pervasive sustainable WebWindows technologies.
In particular, WebFlow will support naturally dataflow integrating
data and compute intensive applications on distributed heterogeneous
systems.