Web Interfaces: The Benefits and Challenges Encountered in Developing Web-based Interfaces

William Rosener University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1301 E-mail: wrosener@utk.edu Phone: (423) 974-5915

Abstract

Every day more and more graphical user interfaces are being developed on the World-Wide Web using HTML Forms and the Common Gateway Interface (CGI). These Web interfaces are being used to access databases, fill out applications, and order products across the Internet. These interfaces are proving that the Web is much more than a server protocol for transferring static documents. Instead, we are seeing it being used to perform sophisticated information retrieval and run external applications.

This paper

  1. lists some of the many benefits which a Web-based interface can offer,
  2. describes concurrency and security issues involved with Web-applications, and
  3. provides an actively used example of a Web-based calendar interface.
This Web-based calendar allows someone to store their scheduling and calendar information at a web site. By using a WWW browser, users can directly access and modify their personal appointment calendars.

Keywords

WorldWideWeb, HTML Forms, CGI, Concurrency, Security, SCOUT, Calendar
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