BANGALORE, INDIA: The era we are in is termed to be that of Web 2.0 and inching towards innovation that is underway in the area of Web 3.0 Rich Internet Application (RIA) falls pretty much in the paradigm of the web that is considered current and future. While technology enablers are one part of the story, the key takers leading to successful adoption are the ‘End Users’.

RIA is a term that most of the enterprises refer to, but fall short of bringing in the right technology building blocks. It’s a definite blend of right technology put to meaningful implementation of the concept that is expected to change the experience of the end users.
 
RIA is a concept that adds glamor & sophistication to a website. The extent of glamor quotient varies from design to design. In the real sense, it provides richness on the web to the end user by providing great intuitive experience, more productive environment in order to build a sense of stickiness to a web asset.

The ‘Real User’ is the one who acts upon the site as a customer, visitor or a passerby. Concept to implementation of RIA is a multifold activity. With the ultimate aim to provide ‘Great Experience’ to end users on the web, there is a need for architects, designers and developers to take a cognitive approach towards building a resourceful and productive platform for the ‘Real User’.

A concept to realization is a 4 step process & below is the various facets. The overall process is presented andsummarized as ‘RIA Operative Model.

Step 1: Define/Redefine ‘Richness’

The ‘Rich’ keyword in the term ‘RIA’ is symbolical in the sense that it adds new dimension to the kind of Internet applications that can be created. Richness got to be looked at from various angles. The richness quotient is expected to fill in the gaps that emanated from the traditional web applications that are built. Following are the core elements that have an influence on the ‘Rich’ factor.

a.Intuitive Interaction & Navigation

b.Enabling Self Service behavior

c.Instill a sense of belonging to the end users

d.Proper & Consistent Branding

While all of the above are perceptive elements, they carry significant weightage in providing key inputs while applying technology. We are talking, ‘Richness’ beyond look and feel. While the very trend began with super cool images and graphics being placed on the web pages, the game has changed to bring in the above mentioned elements.

The ‘Redefine’ richness element comes in from the experience of considering the core elements in the context of the operative domain. The ‘Rich’ factor on a web site will definitely differ in terms of the way certain user behavior changes from site to site. For example, while transacting on an e-commerce website, the entire focus from a user perspective goes into ensuring that their transaction goes through and they get an acknowledgement to that extent. Whereas, when a user is navigating through in deciding ‘what to buy’, lot depends on how the products are presented to ease the process of decision making. Hence richness gets redefined from context to context and within each domain.

Step 2: Technology

Technology plays a very critical role in providing a foundation for success. While lot can be envisaged from a user perspective, but choosing/embracing the right technology decides the outcome. RIA platforms are not too many. While Adobe platform was being perceived to be leaders in RIA technology, Microsoft has shot to fame in no time, with the much desired innovation. Gartner rating is an evidence of the same, as they have positioned Microsoft in a ‘Strong Positive’ position, in the market scope for Ajax technologies and Rich Internet Application platform.