JAVA, VRML and Other Web Enhancements

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The Internet, and more specifically, the World Wide Web, will eventually revolutionize the way we communicate and share information. Unfortunately, websites are somewhat hampered by the HTML document layout language, which is relatively limiting. Documents written in standard HTML are static; that is, they are lifeless. They just sit there, waiting for you to read them. It takes a talented website designer to put together a website that draws the reader in and involves them. There are some developing technologies, though, that promise (in theory, at least) to change all this and make the web into an active and exciting environment.

You must first understand that, in order to take advantage of any of the enhancements covered in this report, you must, at the very least, obtain additional software. In most cases, the required software works in conjunction with your web browser, and can be downloaded from a website. In other cases, functionality has been built into new versions of browsers, which you must obtain from the manufacturer. Finally, one enhancement in particular requires an entire browser of its own.

JAVA
The enhancement that has been grabbing all the media attention is Java. Created by Sun Microsys-tems, Java is a programming language which lets you create "applets" (small applications) which can be inserted into an HTML document. When the reader accesses the document, the applet downloads with the document and begins running. Currently, Java applets consist mainly of small animated logos, scrolling banners that move across the top or bottom of the browser window, and other small "treats."

Potentially, Java can be used to construct full applications, such as spreadsheets, interactive presentations, etc., all of which will run from within an HTML document. Here's the problem, though: Java is TOUGH to learn. Java is basically a stripped down version of C, a popular programming language. In order to use Java, you really should learn to program in C. In order to write a large application, such as a spreadsheet, you'd have to be a pretty darn good programmer. Sun will have to address these problems if they want Java to become a universal web standard, perhaps with a "drag and drop" Java authoring program that makes creating an applications easy. Otherwise, adding Java to your website will require the assistance of a good programmer.
Currently, the only Java-ready all-purpose browser is the 32-bit version 2.0 of the Netscape Navigator. This requires Windows 95 or Windows NT, and can be downloaded from the Netscape website at http://home.netscape.com. More Java-ready browsers, sample applets, and other information can be obtained from Sun Microsystem's website at http://java.sun.com/.

VRML
Virtual Reality Modeling Language, or VRML, has also been getting the media's attention. There are many VRML software systems in various levels of testing or completeness from a slew of different manufacturers, with, so far, no real standard.

As the name implies, VRML lets you create a virtual reality environment, such as a building, which the viewer can navigate through in 3-D, as if they were really there. Some VRML languages even let you put objects or other people into the environment, which the viewer can interact with. Potentially, with VRML, you could create an art museum that people could "walk" through, or a house in New York that people in France could visit, or any other environment, interior or exterior.

To become successful, the VRML idea has a few major hurdles to overcome. First, there is no standard. A number of companies are working on their own versions, each incompatible with the other, with virtually no cooperation. This will inevitably delay the success of the system that emerges as the winner. Second, VRML sites are graphic-intensive, which means huge file sizes and extremely long download periods for the average person. Third, VRML sites tend to be rather low resolution, in order to lower the downloading time. This results in something less pleasing to the eye than many people might expect. Finally, most VRML systems require a separate browser program, rather than a "plug-in" to Netscape, for example. If VRML can be standardized and can overcome these potential problems, then it may prove to be a viable system. Until then, however, it should be viewed as a work in progress.
(To find various VMRL software systems and test sites, search for VRML in Yahoo [http://www.yahoo.com] and other search databases.)

SHOCKWAVE
Shockwave is a rather unusual web enhancement that just may prove to be one of the best. Shockwave was created by Macromedia, the makers of Director, the leading interactive multimedia creation program. Director has long been used by Macintosh and PC-users alike to create multimedia games, presentations, marketing materials, etc., distributed on diskettes and CD-ROMs. The results are very professional, and the program is relatively easy to use.

The Shockwave plug-in program for Netscape Navigator allows you to add an interactive multimedia presentation right into your HTML documents. The reader will be able to click buttons, hear sounds, and watch animation, right on their screen, as if they were running a Director presentation that had been given to them on disk.

All you need to view Shockwave presentations is the Netscape Navigator browser and the Shockwave plug-in, available for free from Macromedia's website (http://www.macromedia.com). Note that it is only available for PC-compatibles at the time of this writing. To create Shockwave presentations, you must have the Director software, plus the Afterburner software (available for free from Macromedia's website), which compresses and optimizes the presentations for distribution over the web.

Advantages: The Director program is rather easy to use and is widespread. Director produces great quality, reliable interactive presentations. The viewer and compression programs are free. Once the presentation is downloaded, it can run endlessly without requiring further downloading.
Disadvantages: Presentations cannot include data capturing (i.e., forms for the reader to fill out, etc.). Presentations must be kept small, or else downloading time will be long. Director is an expensive program to purchase (over $800 for the latest version).

Disadvantages aside, Shockwave lets you add everything from small animations as an accent, to extensive presentations, all within a standard HTML document. This is one to watch.

BLACKBIRD
This technology was developed by Microsoft, originally for its Microsoft Network (MSN), as a method of easily creating exciting, interactive content for online services and the web. Unfortunately, it was never completed on time for content developers, and, rather than delay the launch of MSN, Microsoft decided to go with another method of creating online content.
This leaves Blackbird relatively in limbo. Microsoft has said that Blackbird is still a viable development environment for websites and other online services, and that it will continue to be supported with new releases. However, any information on it is rather hard to find and sketchy. Personally, I’d chalk this up as a Microsoft misstep.

GIF89A ANIMATION
This technique has been around for as long as the GIF89A graphics file format, but is only now starting to be explored. The GIF89A format allows you to combine multiple GIF images into one file, including headers in front of each image detailing how long to display it and other information. These images can be looped, thus forming a repeating animation.

GIF89A animations are not difficult to produce, and require no software on the reader’s side other than a browser that can display the different frames of the GIF (if their browser can’t, it will show the first frame only as a still picture). All you need to create one is a graphics program that can save files in the GIF89A file format, and a program that can compile multiple GIF images into one (such as GIF Construction Kit, found at http://www.north.net/alchemy/alchemy.html).

CONCLUSION
As it stands today, the web is, primarily, still a land of plain text and still image documents. Very soon, however, you can expect interactive presentations, walk-through environments, and actual program applications with multiple uses. Pay attention to the websites listed in this article, and you can stay on the cutting edge of the developing World Wide Web!