We defined network applications, as opposed to stand-alone applications, as those in which either the data, programs, or both are stored on the network.
All network applications store data on a server, but some also store copies of the data on the client. That enables a user to work when off line -- perhaps when traveling -- and automatically synchronize the data on the two machines when the client re-connects to the network.
This short video illustrates offline editing while using Zoho's Writer word processing service, and you can read more about it here.
Note that it uses Google Gears, an open source program that must be installed on the client computer.
Google wrote and supports Gears as an open source project -- what is their reason for doing so? Why is Gears strategic for Google?
Google’s purpose for writing and supporting Google Gears is simply because they want to build a developer community. Google hopes developers can provide valuable information to them or to users on their application(s). Their need for developers is to help make their applications more dynamic and appealing for users, thus people will want to do more web searches.
ReplyDeleteGoogle’s purpose for writing and supporting Google Gears is simply because they want to build a developer community. Google hopes developers can provide valuable information to them or to users on their application(s). Their need for developers is to help make their applications more dynamic and appealing for users, thus people will want to do more web searches.
ReplyDelete