Given by Geoffrey C. Fox at Case Center Meeting on 13 November 95. Foils prepared 10 November 1995
Abstract * Foil Index for this file
See also color IMAGE
We describe the relevance of Advanced Web Technologies for Industry and Education |
WebWindows is the basic Web Operating Environment for which one will build software products |
We use WebFoil as an example to illustrate the WebWindows approach to WebTop Productivity software with open modular design |
Java, PERL, VRML, Telescript, Video/web servers are critical advanced technologies but there also opportunities to take existing technologies such as relational databases and integrate with Web |
Major initial opportunities include use of Web in Business Enterprise Systems |
We also can develop new approaches to delivery of education at all levels such as in Living Schoolbook |
We can also need new university and continuing education curricula to teach people these new technologies |
This table of Contents Abstract
Geoffrey Fox |
NPAC |
Syracuse University |
111 College Place |
Syracuse NY 13244-4100 |
We describe the relevance of Advanced Web Technologies for Industry and Education |
WebWindows is the basic Web Operating Environment for which one will build software products |
We use WebFoil as an example to illustrate the WebWindows approach to WebTop Productivity software with open modular design |
Java, PERL, VRML, Telescript, Video/web servers are critical advanced technologies but there also opportunities to take existing technologies such as relational databases and integrate with Web |
Major initial opportunities include use of Web in Business Enterprise Systems |
We also can develop new approaches to delivery of education at all levels such as in Living Schoolbook |
We can also need new university and continuing education curricula to teach people these new technologies |
It provides a pervasive and highly innovative technology base
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Note Intel Teraflop computer will have 9000 P6's but WWW will have at least one thousand times as many possible nodes varying (eventually) from supercomputers to settop boxes |
WWW is important as it allows rich (world wide linkage of simulation and information capabilities) open and portable environment |
Each of three components (network connections, clients, servers) has capital value of order $10 to $100 Billion |
Application Specific NII Specific Services for
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In future one will NOT write software for either
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Rather one will write software for WebWindows defined as the operating environment for World Wide Web |
WebWindows builds on top of Web Servers and Web Client open interfaces as in
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Applications written for WebWindows will be portable to all computers running Web Servers or Clients
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Clients (such as Mosaic and Netscape) support browsing of hyperlinked documents but have no internal interactive/compute capability |
Servers read HTTP and deliver requested service to client |
HTML -- a document format supporting hyperlinks |
HTTP -- a Transport Protocol defining Interaction between Web servers and Clients |
MIME -- a data format allowing agent-like (extended email) communication |
CGI -- a standard interface allowing sophisticated server extensions |
PERL -- a rapid prototyping language(script) aimed at text and file manipulation |
Web Search engines such as YAHOO, HARVEST, WAIS -- early distributed database access technology supporting search and indexing |
net.Thread, WebTools, RealAudio are early Web Interactive services |
Relational databases -- Oracle,DB2 have Web Interfaces |
Collaboration from Console Units (PIctureTel, CLI), Desktop (SGI Inperson) to MOOs |
Compression from MPEG and Wavelet to host of proprietary solutions -- a faction of 20 to 200 saving in space and bandwidth |
Geographical Information Systems |
Security will enable commerce on the Internet -- essential for Defence as well |
Produced by Gang Cheng April 1995 |
There is a larger Better Quality Image available |
Oracle 7 Interface to Usenet-Prepared October 27,1995 |
Associated material may be found starting at Oracle-Web Interface to Usenet and other Services |
Oracle 7 Interface to Usenet-Prepared October 27,1995 |
Associated material may be found starting at Oracle-Web Interface to Usenet and other Services |
Shown with example of November 3 Presentation to Trustee Spouses |
ATM, ISDN, Wireless, Satellite will be hybrid physical implementation of NII |
CORBA, Opendoc, OLE, SGML, Hytime are critical file and document standards |
High Performance Multimedia servers to enable digital information delivery on demand |
Data transport from MPI/MSGWAY/PVM to AAL to CBR/VBR |
Windows95/NT -- the last of the the non social(Web) operating systems -- will follow dinosaurs(IBM mainframes) into extinction |
Personal Digital Assistants -- WebNewtons done right -- Telescript (agent based communication) and Magic Cap operating system |
WebWindows -- the open nonproprietary operating system of future supplanting UNIX, Windows95/NT, Apple etc. -- manages with a single interface all machines either individually or collectively on the NII |
WebWork -- Implements Computing for both Simulation and Information ontop of WebWindows-- the correct implementation of HPCC ideas such as HPF,MPI with pervasive technologies and good software engineering |
WebScript -- The evolving Middleware of scripted languages including PERL5, Java, Telescript, MOVIE (NPAC early prototype), domain specific Problem Solving Environments |
This will lead upto Ultimate Goal! Televirtuality -- All Web Users are linked into a single virtual world |
Java -- an interpreted C++ like language (script) allowing fully interactive clients which execute applets. Has full set of classes to make clients such as HOTJava. Licensed by Netscape |
VRML -- a 3 dimensional HTML allowing universal description of physical objects and allowing interchange of virtual worlds, commercial product designs etc. |
PERL5 -- an extension of PERL4 with full object oriented characteristics and extended pointer(array) constructs -- allows construction of Web Software obeying good software engineering practices |
Telescript -- forced into semiopen by Java (!?) -- dynamic Web Transport and Server technology replacing HTTP,MIME .. |
Multithreaded WebServers integrating current Web, Compute and digital multimedia delivery services -- future Enterprise Systems |
Persuasion and Powerpoint are rather similar monolithic packages which can for instance only be clumsily ported to UNIX as cannot access internal data-structures defining foils |
WebFoil (NPAC prototype WebWindows presentation package) has |
Extended open HTML source manipulated by powerful PERL5 scripts allowing global changes and linkages of foils from many sources
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WebFoil Uses Hotjava to display HTML with full Web Power including applets to enable Multimedia and dynamic presentations |
Initial webfoil 0.1 release Halloween 1995 |
The WebTop Productivity environment will be built in a more modular fashion than current PC Windows or Macintosh arena
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Java is key to understanding how WebWindows application/service software will look as it allows balanced client server applications to be built |
Note require an open display software so can produce appropriate customized interfaces for browsing, presenting, word processing etc. |
Java may or may not be accepted by Web Community and Sun/Netscape may or may not allow it to used openly |
However the concept is essential and roughly right -- one or more such open technologies will become available and used on the Web |
Initial webfoil 0.1 release Halloween 1995 |
Initial webfoil 0.1 release Halloween 1995 |
Latest results prepared for HPDC95 Tutorial August 1,1995 |
Desktop Publishing and Productivity Tools in WebWindows (WebTop Productivity/Publishing)
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InfoVision: Delivery on Demand of Information from:
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Commerce -- digital Cash and signatures with appropriate authentication and security. Enables both Web Commerce (shopping) and use of Web for proprietary information |
Interactive and "batch" Collaboration
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Metacomputing -- the collection of world wide computers as a coordinated (in subgroups of computers) computational engine (for simulation or information processing)
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This is distributed databases for supporting cost effective healthcare with less fraud, better use of existing information for establishing care-plans etc |
This is collaboration, remote instrument control for telemedicine |
Could be full televirtuality for virtual-reality controlled remote surgery in battlefield or accident scenarios |
This is basis of Virtual University and NII can be expected to be much more succesful than videosystems because interactive, collaborative, explorative and full multimedia information at student and teachers fingertips |
Base of Distance Education is InfoVision for full interactive curricula
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Rich Collaboration environments including televirtual MOO's for student-student and student-teacher interactions |
InfoVision is "successor" to TV with any multimedia information delivered on demand( choice from infinite number of channels) |
Community Networks will define local societies and will have significant impact on local government |
Shopping on the Web will include multimedia digital yellow pages , Commerce, online catalogs (which is InfoVision again) as well as perhaps powerful VR interfaces where you can try out new clothes and cars |
Collaboration (gossip as in computer forums) could be an important and dominant use but perhaps not initial major one |
OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) such as approving and recording credit card transactions. This is a type of InfoVision and Commerce which is operational today
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Decision Support varies from fraud detection, inventory planning and market segmentation for optimizing shopping by mail |
Decision support can vary from search of a single giant relational database to galaxy-wide search of heterogeneous distributed database |
Workflow Support as in LOTUS Notes integrates Collaboration, Project Management and Distributed Databases. This supports ongoing distributed enterprise -- this is also essential in collaboratory |
The World Wide Web will develop a marvellous WebTop Environment allowing users to access Web versions of Word Excel(Lotus123) Persuasion(Powerpoint) Databases Lotus Notes etc.
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This (as developed) enables a wonderful new software industry as Microsoft no longer has key advantages |
This (as used) enables very effective (business) enterprise systems where "Web" used internally to an enterprise
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Critical feature is realtime, "come as you are" adaptive linked computers and people |
Judgement support extends decision support into an "exploratorium" scenario as crises tend to be unexpected |
Major need to search community and government databases for immediate information on resource location and availability etc. Metadata(summaries) essential |
Collaboration between commander in field , specialized anchor desks (domain experts) and those in field. |
User Interface essential as user will be tired and searching unfamiliar data |
Geographical Information Systems and browsing multiple video sources (InfoVision again) will be critical as judgements will depend critically on spatial data. |
This is future model for (inter)national distributed research |
Rich Collaboration environment essential as collaborative research requires nontrivial person to person interactions |
Searching distributed databases basis of much scholarly work (infoVision and Digital Library) |
Metacomputing for multidisciplinary, multi-institutional simulations and for control and data storage and analysis from remote instruments whether satellites, telescopes, accelerators etc. |
Distributed (people) Software Engineering support for production of distributed computing software |
Needs workflow support as distributed enterprise |
Critical feature is closely integrated collaboration of very many people and computers requiring |
Metacomputing Simulation and distributed database support as in Collaboratory |
Workflow support including configuration management and central CAD databases |
Rich collaboration environment to support distributed design decisions |
Standards and Security to allow interlinking of people and software from different organizations |
Key special requirement is distributed coordination |
A set of manufacturing companies -- Rockwell International, Northrop Grumman, McDonnell Douglas, General Electric and General Motors is studying the NII implications for a particular MAD system "Affordable Systems Optimization Process" (ASOP) |
Interesting parameters are that next major aircraft to be built could involve:
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For instance as part of my New York State Industrial HPCC outreach program InfoMall, I found that a major manufacturer of large consumer machines had no interest in MPP's for simulating them to improve design |
However very interested in
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Here Perl manipulates text from database to HTML |
Java enables down-loaded simulations |
VRML enables universal definition of 3D objects -- products and buildings |
VRML illustrates how one can store real world objects in a universal fashion |
Game vendors can build modules that interact and enable development of amazing profitable virtual worlds! |
Manufacturers can use VRML as basis of universal product definitions enabling collaborations between several vendors needed for Multidisciplinary analysis and design cf: PDES/STEP standards |
The Web "levels" the playing field for all software products
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For instance VRML allows new powerful versions of Geographical Information Systems |
From Living Schoolbook Project |
Hot buttons linking to weather page in Albany area |
From Living Schoolbook Project |
Using San Diego VRML Viewer Webview |
Little Neck Bay in Northern Long Island (altitude exaggerated by factor 7) |
We can use Web technologies to develop new very important tools for education enabling
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We can teach these new technologies as world hungry for people understanding these technologies
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A NYNEX Joint Venture |
This shows fiber draping Africa with coast off ramps |
The Living Schoolbook is a New York State funded Initiative to create K-12 educational applications that exploit leading information technologies |
Living Schoolbook Uses high performance multimedia server computers at NPAC linked via ATM NYNET network to 6 schools |
School of Education/NPAC/Local Schools Innovative Educational Applications
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Searched on Inventions |
World Wide Web basics : HTTP,MIME, servers,clients |
PERL4 and object-oriented features in PERL5(to be finished) |
Wavelet and Other Compression Technologies |
Collaboration Technologies from MBONE to CLI |
ATM Networks with comparison with ISDN and traditional LAN |
Parallel Relational Databases and Web Integration |
Thread based Communication Environments |
Video servers and network management for good quality |
Parallel Web Servers (to be finished) |
Advanced Web Technologies -- agents, VRML, Java (to be finished) |
One of the neatest ideas is WebFlow which is the Web implementation of dataflow which is seen in
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With Web we can integrate computing and information processing giving a wonderful software engineering environment with for instance
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In the longer term, we can see parallel concepts of
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This implies that we look at both Grand Challenges and National Challenges but we suggest this is not enough: |
WebWork Builds HPCC technologies on a broad not niche base starting at bottom (Web,PC's) |
not top (MPP's, Supercomputers) of computing pyramid |
HyPerl World page, generated automatically by the WebTools CASE package, and integrating documentation with the source. |
More generally, we call by HySource the hypertext documentation with navigable source code included. |
Function calls and external variable references are 'blue' and point to the corresponding HySource pages. |
Early prototype of AVS or Khoros like visual compute-web editor. |
Two interactive modes are supported:
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In mode a), each click in the active editor window places a new module box there. |
In mode b), each click on module port generates links with all other modules. |
A front-end for the software project manager tool. |
Three types of modules are supported:
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Developer modules are linked to the agent module and report automatically all changes in the software volume (handled by WebTools CASE toolkit integrated with WebTools editor). |
The agent module integrates the results and uses customizable threshold to decide when to fire a report to the manager or a deadline reminder to a developer. |