Internet Architecture and Programming--- Project 2 Proposal
415 Special Topics Proposal: REBOL Internet Operating System - (to be presented April 18)
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There are new advances in computer science that allow greater communication, collaboration, and shared information. One of these is a new computer language used on an Internet Operating System. This language is called REBOL and stands for Relative Expression-Based Object Language. �REBOL is the first messaging language designed for Internet applications and data exchange across all devices�. My paper will do the following: introduce REBOL and X Internet; discuss system advantages, security, and language; research and draw comparisons between REBOL and Java; and present topics including current news, developmental advances, and the future of REBOL.
To start, I will investigate REBOL architecture and the powerful advantages it provides. These capabilities encompass �eLearning� and �bloggs�. According to Jay Cross, information architect of Internet Time Group, "eLearning" is the target model for corporate training in the next three to five years. It will be a key survival skill for corporations and free agent learners and is a convergence of concepts such as: loosely organized corporate ecologies; technological advances, including high-speed broadband networks; and a shift of power and responsibility from organizations to individuals. In researching REBOL and the X Internet, I will then examine, outline, and draw comparisons between the securities of such a system to that of the current system. �Unlike the web, email, and instant messaging, all IOS communications and data transfers are always encrypted. Not only are messages and files encrypted, but so are all upward and downward system requests, status replies, and meta data.� This analysis will lead into further comparisons between REBOL and Java.
Because �REBOL is not a traditional computer language like C, BASIC, or Java,� there are many notable differences. REBOL was designed to solve one of the fundamental problems in computing: �the exchange and interpretation of information between distributed computer systems.� But REBOL is highly object oriented, and both Java and REBOL are multi-platform. It is the focus of this research to explain these and other comparisons. For instance, the use of REBOL applications, called �reblets� that download in seconds, are easy to create, and help build web sites or other tasks. In another example, take "disposable code." Some say the X Internet will have programs you download to your PC or handheld device, "use once and throw away," which sounds similar to the intent of Java applets.
Next, I propose to inspect current news dealing with REBOL and X Internet issues. The largest of these topics dealing with the fact that it �currently works on more than 40 platforms including AIX, Amiga, BSD, HP/UX, Linux, Macintosh, Solaris, and Windows. As a consequence, REBOL is potentially useful as a way of deploying applications across the increasingly diverse and fragmented multi-system networks that are becoming commonplace in most businesses.� But as some up-and-coming technologies encounter, REBOL may suffer the fate of setting a new trend but failing to reap the benefits as competitors catch up.
Additionally, this project will expand upon the future of REBOL. "REBOL is exciting. In several respects it points to a different future for application development than the large hierarchical programming systems like Microsoft's .Net, or Sun's Java. It extends the HTML browser metaphor to a mode where applications can reside across many different systems, yet stay very lightweight and flexible." In fact, Rebol Technologies, Ukiah, Calif., is �developing software for the X Internet that allows a group of individuals to have access to each other�s information and share constantly updated files.� In surpassing the Web�s proclaimed limited use of information, REBOL�s future lies in its potential to amplify, again, communication, efficiency, and information.
And finally, I propose to develop a demo of a REBOL feature to further demonstrate the above material and bring to greater visualization the literal use of this exciting advance in technology.
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