1. eLib Technical Issues Concertation Day: Mobile Code and VRML Brian Kelly UK Web Focus UKOLN, University of Bath, Bath B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

2. Contents Mobile Code CGI Java ActiveX VRML Issues

3. Mobile Code CGI Model Common Gateway Interface Run software on server Output (virtual or dynamic document) delivered to client Mobile Code Download code from server and run on client computer Examples include Java and SafeTCL Security is a big issue

4. Java Java is Sun’s implementation of mobile code: Security built-in (runs on virtual machine) Support from major manufacturers (Sun, Netscape, Microsoft, IBM, …) Not for the novice programmer http://java.sun.com:81/nav/ used/metamedia.html?

5. ActiveX ActiveX is Microsoft’s implementation of mobile code: A framework for integration, not a programming language Developed from Microsoft’s OLE desktop model Security based on digital signatures http://www.microsoft.com/activex/gallery/

6. ActiveX Example ActiveX contols can be written in Java. Here the Future- Tense Texture ActiveX control gives contol over the layout, as well as restricting access to the document source http://www.futuretense.com/texture/ gallery/Gazette/Gazette.html

7. VRML VRML: Virtual Reality Model(l)ing Language Brings 3D worlds to WWW VRML specifications: VRML 1.0 -Simple spec, produced quickly. Based on SG Inventor VRML 2.0 - Provides interaction Voting on VRML 2.0 proposals, followed by agreement

8. VRML Example VRML browsers are now bundled in with Netscape and Microsoft Explorer browsers

9. Further Information Java http://java.sun.com/ http://www.jars.com/ http://www.gamelan.com/ ActiveX http://www.microsoft.com/activex/ http://www.activex.com/ VRML http://vrml.wired.com/ http://www.sdsc.edu/vrml/ See also resources at http://www.yahoo.com/

10. Issues Issues which WWW developers will have to address include: Is VRML relevant to my project? Which architecture of mobile code to use? Deployment of new features (e.g. Java support, VRML support)