Application Development
Web Based Applications
The web has developed hugely over the last few years, with a clear shift in purpose from a medium solely delivering information, to a place where people can seamlessly communicate ideas, collaborate on projects and execute transactions.
These changes are briefly summarised below:
Phase 1:
Static 'information based' website's built solely in HTML that function as an online version of your corporate marketing materials, training manuals and any other useful information. There is still a demand for this type of site, particularly for smaller companies or personal homepages, but in general people are now looking for a website that provides more interaction.Phase 2:
Hybrid website's that deliver information effectively, as in phase 1, but also allow a greater level of interaction. This could be a product catalogue generated from a database, a portfolio of work, a shopping cart, a news feed, an interactive help system, or almost anything else you can think of. Many of these features can be though of as basic web applications and are now standard for a corporate website. The emphasis here is to gain real business benefit from your website by directly selling to, or providing support for, your customers.Phase 3:
Integrated web applications that perform a real task and replace or expand upon an existing system. An easy example of a web application is online banking system that allows the user to execute all the normal financial transactions at their own convenience and without human intervention.
At Infinite Eye we have experience in the deployment of 'off-the-shelf' web applications and more importantly in developing web applications for our clients for a range of purposes. In many cases there is no pre-built application that will integrate into the way you currently work or the systems you currently use, that is when you require a customised solution.
When selecting or commissioning a web application there are normally many ways to tackle your problem. It is worth considering the following general questions:
- Who will use the application?
- Internal (office based) staff.
- Remote workers.
- Business Customers
- Trading Partners
- Administrative Staff
- What tasks should be performed or replaced (functionality)?
- Adding / editing / removing data.
- Processing information / calculations.
- Filtering / sorting / searching / cleaning information.
- Manipulation of documents / images.
- CSV Files
- Do we need to connect to other data sources?
- Internal database systems.
- Online Databases.
- XML sources
- Proprietary data formats.
- CSV Files
- Do we need to export data for users?
- Connect to external database systems.
- XML data
- Proprietary data formats.
- CSV Files
- Generated PDF / Word / Spreadsheet documents
- How will the system be secure?
- Standard .htaccess security.
- Database based Passwords system.
- Encryption of passwords / data.
- Secure Firewall.
- How will the system be accessed?
- Worker within internal office network.
- Remote workers.
- Portable devices
- PDA
- Tablet PC
- Mobile Phone
If you are interested in finding out more about web applications and what we could build for your business please contact us to discuss your requirements.
