Web applications
What is a data driven application?
A data-driven application, also called a web application, is much more than a web site. It is a set of custom-designed software components that provide an elegant user interface to your customer through a web browser, and accomplish a significant business task for you, usually by reading from and writing to a database. In their most capable form these are called Rich Internet Applications (RIAs).
Examples of RIA's include automobile web sites where you can "build your own" vehicle (see www.miniusa.com as a beautiful example, site developed by BMW North America), hotel reservation sites, ecommerce sites, shopping carts, or any site that requires users to log in. The business function performed can be as simple or as complex as you dare to imagine.
A great web experience
A Rich Internet Application can be the best way to serve your customers and your employees at the same time. Have you ever been frustrated when visiting a web site because you had to wait for the screen to re-draw after you clicked a button? Had to re-enter information when you used the "back" button to fix an entry on the previous page? User frustration means lost business. Using the unique capabilities of Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash and Adobe Flex technology, RIA's create a fast and efficient user experience. They respond rapidly to user actions like clicking a button, moving the mouse, or submitting data, even when writing to a database. The result is a positive user experience they want to come back to. That means more business for you.
Rich Internet Applications built with Flash or Flex are quickly becoming the standard for the world's best web sites.