Project Aim: 

The project is aim to investigate a Thin-Client user interface alternative to applet, which has to be user friendly, rich user interface, quick responsive time, ease of developing screen and ease of maintenance etc.

Current Approach:

First Phase: research and evaluate each technology against the requirements. Studying the existing user interface first, by using some example user interface, as well as reading the user documentation that Peace Software provided, and work out a functional requirement list. Research the technologies listed below either online or through Uni¡¯s databases.

• Altio/Digital Harbor
• Curl
• Flash Flex
• JavaServer Faces
• Java Web Start
• Naked Objects
• Struts
• XUL

Form a template to rate each technology against the company's requirements listed below.

• Intuitiveness/ease of use
• Richness of the UI
• Responsiveness/performance
• Ease of developing screens/pages
• Administration/maintainability
• Market acceptance/penetration/adoption

Second Phase: a more in depth evaluation of the top 2-3 technologies will be carried out. Putting all of the good pieces together to develop a prototype screen.

Learning Objectives: We will develop skills about learning new technologies, planning, researching, time managing and reporting while we are participating in this project. We act as the R&D division of Peace Software to find out an alternative technology to build Thin-Client user interface. Learning objectives shall include:

• Research of new technology
• Project planning, Project management and team collaboration
• Real life development of user interface
• Technical writing and report presentation