Architectural Modifiability Considerations for Designing a Multi-device Web Application Platform

AbstractThe mobile web has enabled applications to become available anywhere, anytime and on any device. Numerous emerg- ing web applications have the ability to execute and collaborate across a wide range of web-enabled devices. However, due to the increasing variety of target delivery contexts, the development of such mobile applications has led to a strong need for adaptive software engineering. To address this significant issue, webinos was designed. Webinos is a multi-device distributed platform for ubiquitous web-based applications. In this paper we discuss the architectural modifiability tactics and patterns that were considered for the design of the webinos platform. Moreover, we reflect on the implementation details of realizing such a modifiable architectural design

On the design and development of webinos: a distributed mobile application middleware.

As personal devices become smarter, opportunities arise for sharing services, applications and data between them. While web technologies hold the promise of being a unifying layer, browsers lack functionality for supporting inter-device communication, synchronization, and security. To address this, we designed webinos: a cross-device distributed middleware providing interoperability, compatibility and security for mobile web applications. In this paper we present a case study of the webinos project, showing how the architecture of webinos was specified, designed and implemented, and reflect on several lessons learned

An Internet-Based Architecture Supporting Ubiquitous Application User Interfaces

Maintaining a viable balance between development costs and market coverage has turned out to be a challenging issue when developing mobile software applications. The diversity of devices running third-party developed software applications is rapidly expanding from PC, to mobile, home entertainment systems, and even the automotive industry. With the help of Web technology and the Internet infrastructure, ubiquitous applications have become a reality. Nevertheless, the variety of presentation and interaction modalities still limit the number of targetable devices. In this chapter we present webinos, a multi-device application platform founded on the Future Internet infrastructure. Hereto we describe webinos’ model-based user interface framework as a means to support context-aware adaptiveness for applications that are executed in such ubiquitous computing environments

Do we know each other or is it just our devices? A federated context model for describing social activity across devices.

The availability of connected devices is rapidly growing. In our everyday life, we already use a multitude of personal devices that are connected to the Internet. The number of shipped smart-phones at the end of 2010 even surpassed the traditional computer segments for the first time in the US [IDC]. From PC, to mobile, to home entertainment and even in-car units, consumers should be preparing for a connected experience. At the same time rise of social media also had a major influence on how people communicate and collaborate. Applications such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have become the first place to go when there is breaking news. As devices turn web enabled, this evolution should allow us to connect the day-to-day activities of millions of users regardless of their location and regardless of the type of device they are using. The number of possible activities are endless and range from sending instant messages to friends, taking photographs, looking for deals online, navigating to our destination, reading newspapers and magazines, sharing content and sometimes even talking to others. However, as the web turns ubiquitous, all the more it becomes painfully apparent that we completely rely on dedicated applications in support of our needs. The web is everywhere, but we just can't live without our apps

“Do we know each other or is it just our Devices?”: A Federated Context Model for Describing Social Activity Across Devices

The availability of connected devices is rapidly growing. In our everyday life, we already use a multitude of personal devices that are connected to the Internet. The number of shipped smart-phones at the end of 2010 even surpassed the traditional computer segments for the first time in the US [IDC]. From PC, to mobile, to home entertainment and even in-car units, consumers should be preparing for a connected experience

On the design and development of webinos: a distributed mobile application middleware

As personal devices become smarter, opportunities arise for sharing services, applications and data between them. While web technologies hold the promise of being a unifying layer, browsers lack functionality for supporting inter-device communication, synchronization, and security. To address this, we designed webinos: a cross-device distributed middleware providing interoperability, compatibility and security for mobile web applications. In this paper we present a case study of the webinos project, showing how the architecture of webinos was specified, designed and implemented, and reflect on several lessons learned