Part of the appeal of Rich Internet Applications is that they are about delivering the next generation of software. They’re about supporting the convergence of the web and the desktop and giving developers the freedom to choose the best platform for their needs. In some cases, having access to the desktop will be the requirement. In other cases, browser based applications will be perfect. RIAs span both categories. In the end, it’s about the experience, the richness, and the power of building real software. RIAs provide a way to do that that hasn’t existed before, and that’s why they’re so exiting. They change the game in so many ways.
from The Universal Desktop by Ryan Stewart
I agree. At first we were desktop-oriented. Then Web 2.0 came along and moved all our data to Google Servers. Now we move into the world in between these two extremes.
This move will prove to be very interesting. The Google of this next generation Web will be the company that get the best data synchrony between platforms. The technical details will prove to be even more interesting. Not everyone has a local SQL or MySQL server to use as a temporary data store. What are you going to use? Xml? In other words, the data storage solution will have to work across multiple scenarios and Operating Systems. In fact, come to think of it, how do you solve the browser sandbox problem without affecting security (while still providing ease-of-use: I.e no local software to install to run outwidth the browser sandbox).
I’m writing this using Windows Live Writer (no plugins installed yet), which I prefer to the WordPress write page. This can be described as a hybrid application. Although its installed locally, its working with Web data at its core. It downloads the blog theme, the Categories, the Recent Posts and also publishes the posts. Although its not Flash, AJAX, Flex or goodness knows what other platform out there or running in a browser, it is a Rich Internet Application. In other words, I’m suggesting that the definition of a RIA be extended beyond a Platform-Centric definition to a Functionality-Centric definition.
So and RIA should be defined as an Application that functionally brings together the Web and the Desktop.
Random Musings 