Web Development Tools

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Web Development Tools

• Visual (HTML) Editors
• Site Managers
• Hypermedia Tools -- rejuvenated
• HTML-Database Integration
• Publication Wizards
• Model-driven Web Generators
• based on paper from Piero Fraternali (WWW7)

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Visual Editors and Site Managers

• WYSIWYG, page upload, link repair
• Adobe Site/Page Mill, NetObject Fusion, SoftQuad
  HotMetal, MS Frontpage

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Hypermedia Tools

• Asymetrix Toolbook, Macromedia Director and
  Authorware
• authoring, multimedia and synchronisation,
  navigation
• platform-dependent - plugins

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HTML-DBPL Integration

• merge of Web and databases
• integrate HTML with database programming language
• Cold Fusion, MS Active Server Pages
• form editors, report writers
• database publishing wizards
• MS Visual InterDev, Oracle Developer 2000

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Model-driven Web Generators

• coverage of all developers activities
• from analysis to implementation
• state-of-the art software engineering
• Oracle Web Developer Suite
• AutoWeb, OOHDM, ... - research prototypes

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Web Application Development Support

• structure
• behavior
• navigation
• presentation
• ... orthogonal features, with peer dignity

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Enabling communication - education

• decreasing sense of isolation
• increasing flexibility
• increasing variety
• increasing communication experience
• enabling variety of pedagogy

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Forms of communication

• asynchronous - email, news, ftp, http
• synchronous - IRC, MUD/MOO, chat
• face-to-face - audio/video conferencing

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Communication Approaches

• one-to-one - peer assessment and email buddies
• one-to-many - lectures, presentations
• many-to-one - feedback and evaluation
• many-to-many - virtual class, panel discussions

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Communication Tools (1)

• email - threading, filters, MIME, ..., search
• mailing list - majordomo
• Web/email-news Gateway - MHonArc (archives)
• news readers
• conferencing -

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Communication Tools (2)

• MUD/MOO/MUSH - multi-user shared hallucination
• chat - CGI, IRC, Java, avatar-based
• groupware - Lotus Notes
• audio communication - Cooltalk, Netmeeting
• video communication - CuSeeMe, MBONE

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Concept Planning and Development

• Questions to ask yourself
• Issues in concept development
• Development steps
• Site metaphors
• taken from Creating Internet Entertainment

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Questions to ask yourself

• Should you build a site?
• Do you know how to use the Internet effectively?
• Is your industry/business online?
• Low cost or high cost?
• Is the concept practical?
• Who will create the site?
• Who will develop/maintain the content?
• Who is the audience?
• Does your site fit within a community?
• Is access unlimited or members-only?

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Issues in Concept Development

• Choose a name!
• Choose a class - micro or macro?
• Choose a metaphor - literal is possible!
• Develop a flowchart - navigation
• User-centric - adaptive (cookie)?
• Interactivity - email, form, bulletin, polls,
  chat, ...
• User evaluation - is it effective?

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Development Steps

• 1. Proposal - short summary
• 2. Description of purpose - economic model
• 3. Concept - type, site, metaphor, multimedia
• 4. Implementation facilities - CGI, Java,
  Shockwave
• 5. Cost - hardware, software, support
• 6. Time-table - research, production,
  development, launch...
• 7. Maintenance and upgrades - personnel
• 8. Expansion options - programming and
  administration
• 9. Appendix - flowchart and demographics
• 10. Business plan - funding and marketing

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Metaphors for Sites

• spatial - cities, solar system, room, backyard
• representational - train, ship, radio
• person or entity - home, tax-wizard
• time or event - camera, mechanical arm, fishcam
• literal - functional control (tables and lists)