While often intriguing, informative, and useful, Web content has been devoid of the degree of interactivity offered by many multimedia and hypermedia systems - Java changes this dramatically
While often intriguing, informative, and useful, Web content has been devoid of the degree of interactivity offered by many multimedia and hypermedia systems - Java changes this dramatically |
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What do the Rolling Stones and Sun Microsystems have in common? First, both organisations have sites on the World Wide Web to promote their work. Second, each has chosen Java to enliven their World Wide Web pages. People and organisations use the World Wide Web to communicate globally and instantly.
Using the Internet as a network for data transfer, the Web employs a form of expression called hypertext that connects related information in web-like structures. Combined with multimedia, the resulting webs of hypermedia have opened new possibilities for expression and communication.
But something has been missing from the Web since its introduction to the world in the early 1990s. Although the amount of Web data traffic and the number of computers offering information on the Web has risen dramatically, the content of the pages has lacked important expressive and interactive qualities. While often intriguing, informative, and useful, Web content has been devoid of the degree of interactivity offered by many multimedia and hypermedia systems that run on non-networked computers.
So although the Web fostered world-wide interconnections among people and information, it has only enabled people to observe: read text, watch videos, listen to music, and explore information. The unbounded universe of possibilities on the Web may lead some users to feel that the hyper links just keep leading them on, until ultimately, the Web seems just a road to nowhere: Java changes all this. Java makes all destinations possible for Web users. Java enables developers to create content that can be delivered to and run by users on their computers. This software can support anything that programmers can dream up: spreadsheets, tutorials, animations, and interactive games With the Web page as the delivery platform, this software can support a variety of information tasks with true Interactivity; users can get continuous, instantaneous feedback for applications in visualisation, animation and computation.
Presenting Java is not a book to teach you programming, it delves into the possibilities Java offers in animation, interaction, and network communications however the book will help you: · Appreciate the profound way Java transforms the World Wide Web · Grasp conceptually what is involved with using Java, including the HTM connection and the roles of the HotJava browser and the Java language · Learn about the HotJava browser and how to download and use it · Understand how the Java language works, including the basics of data def program control · See some example Java applets that support animations, interactively, and applications In short this book is an introduction to Java's essentials: how Java connects with the Web Java programs, and the basics of constructing Java programs. This book discusses the significance of Java and showcases the kinds of applications suitable for Java. Presenting Java appreciates the profound way Java transforms the World Wide Web and helps the reader grasp conceptually what is involved with using Java, including the HTML-to - Java connection and the roles of the HotJava browser and the Java language. It describes the use of the HotJava browser and how to download and use it and gives a basic understand how the Java language works, including the basics of data definition and program control
This book is slightly outdated and cannot do justice to the rich and very rapid ways that Java is developing technically and expressively.
As such, this book is limited in two ways: 1. It covers the alpha release of Java HotJava that was available in the summer of 1995. 2. This book is not meant to be a comprehensive reference or advanced programming guide for Java. It instead provides a quick start for new users, project planners, and developers, with coverage of introductory conceptual and beginning technical information about Java, with pointers to on-line locations of full and current reference information.
In conclusion this book will be useful to: · Managers and planners who are interested in seeing what Java technology might do for their organisation · Information developers who want to get an idea of how Java works · Web developers and programmers who want to see quickly how to expand the level of interactivity of their information with Java · Students in on-line communication or hypermedia courses who need to grasp the essentials of Java
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Presenting Java by John December ISBN 1 - 57521-039-8 is published by Sams Net priced £22.95 in the UK and $25 in the USA. The book is available in the United Kingdom from Prentice Hall Campus Marylands Ave, Hemel Hemstead, Herts HP2 7EZ, Telephone: UK 01442 881900 |