Ajax & Web 2.0
There is no definition for Web2.0, at least not in the dictionary. Web2.0 usually refers to those services that allow users to co-operate and change online information. Unlike the previous version, Web 2.0 applications are more interactive offering to the users an experience much more similar to the desktop applications.
It was the beginning of 2005 when Google launched his free-email service: Gmail. At that moment the idea of having a 1Gb email account seemed good enough as to accept Google superiority in other field than “searching” and web advertising. However, Yahoo reacted immediately and it increased its free accounts to 250Mb and soon to 1Gb regaining - if necessary - its users.
But we won’t discuss here about Google and Yahoo war. What I intend to emphasis is that at the beginning of 2005, using Ajax in the new Gmail, Google introduced web 2.0 version at a large scale. If you remember, when you were creating your new Gmail account, the confirmation regarding the availability of the desired address was automatic without pressing any additional button. At that moment it was very spectacular… I don’t say that Google invented Ajax. This technology became first possible because of the browsers - in general - and especially the Internet Explorer, implemented XMLHttpRequest that allows asynchronous loading of the page without the complete reloading of the page. But I sustain that Google was the first of the big players that promoted this technology. You can find here or searching Google :), the Ajax history and many more details about its operation.
Ajax is a technology (in fact a conglomerate made by more technologies like JavaScript, xhtml, html, css, xml and many more) that enhances web functioning by admitting a high level of interaction between users and web pages. Ajax means interaction and if it is used correctly, it makes easier the user’s experience. Of course, web 2.0 is not limited to Ajax. Web 2.0 also it means the aggregation of information from different sources (feeds, blogs…). It means the issue of wiki-type collaborative tools, practically the existence off all the technologies that allow an easy collaboration and interaction between users with same interests. But Ajax is the engine that assures the necessary interaction at the page level.
The best example of Ajax use is the one that was first used by Google for Gmail: the using of Ajax in order to verify the choice made by user before he submits a bushy form and have the unpleasant experience to be turned around to the same form and to choose something else because the first choice was already made by another user. In this example, Ajax usage reduces the necessary time for filling in the form and it results in a “filling in” natural flow.
Obviously, in using Ajax there are pro and contra arguments. Pro reasons are rather related to the increasing of usability. And Jakob Nielsen (the usability guru) although it doesn’t seem to be very interested in the subject, admits that Ajax utility is a recommended practice as long as it doesn’t create confusion in users’ rank (when the difference between interactivity and navigation is evident - here are more details about this and here is the general discussion). The contra reasons are rather related to the fact that Ajax depends on JavaScript and thus, an user without an activated JavaScript can’t use that page. And even more! It is necessary to be taken into consideration the user’s Internet connection latency! Why?! Because if this latency is too big and if the user it is not prevented that an action is taking place in the background, he might not understand what it is going on and thus the aimed usability will actually dramatically decline.
As about usages and usage instructions, well… in this moment Gmail uses very much Ajax but it can run without it, also (obviously some functionalities aren’t available any more). However, bear this in mind! Yahoo! Mail Beta is exclusively based on Ajax. That means that without JavaScript activated you couldn’t use this web mail application at all. This e-mail application is by far the most astonishing achievement based on Ajax that is available to the large public (you just have to ask in order to test it). Yahoo! Mail Beta is, actually, an extremely visual application that proves what Web 2.0 is capable to offer us and what interesting things can be achieved in the future.
The fact that Yahoo Mail has a very similar functionality with Outlook Express, proves that the era of distributive applications is soon approaching. We won’t need desktop applications, anymore, because everything will be on the server… All that is missing is just the good Internet connections… and - obviously - the distributive applications. But Yahoo seems to completely trust Ajax and it’s potential.
PS: As a programmer I never trusted JavaScript too much. Besides the fact that it can’t be controlled, there also exists those variations in interpretation between the types of the browsers that make the development process difficult and with the necessary twitches for each version. But it can’t be without it also! And, at this moment, there are enough frameworks of JavaScript that help us very much in the development of applications. But about this subject we’ll discuss some other time… 