Re: RPG and AJAX was->RE: How do I create a web page that

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: albartell
>
> Give them more than what they expected out of the IT dept. This is
> something
> the user doesn't know exists but they want it desperately.  Older users
> will
> recognize AJAX functionality bringing them back to the days of the  5250
> interface

For the record, IANBA (I am not bashing AJAX).  As I've said before, I'm
sure it has some good applications.  But I disagree with this statement on a
couple of levels.

First, because AJAX is relatively complex and certainly far from standard,
it costs development dollars.  "Give them more than what they expect" is the
kind of technology for technology's sake that gets IT departments in
trouble: Yeah, it looks really sexy, but I didn't have time to actually get
the business functions done.  (Other than that, how was the play, Mrs.
Lincoln?)

Second, I don't see how AJAX is anything like "the days of the 5250
interface".  If anything, it gets them away from green screen, since the
green screen is inherently a block-mode device.  The biggest pushback to GUI
from older users is all the point and click stuff, and while some users
might appreciate the screen being auto-populated as they type, others might
not be so receptive.

Just something to think about.

Joe