Take care, Web apps are different

EA front-ends are very tempting applications to convert to browser-based. But as EA Magazine explains, the user interface that everyone's used to isn't quite there yet under the browser.

"After a rapid rush to the browser, the user community recoiled, asking for all the UI elements it had gotten used to on the PC - whether you derisively call them 'fat clients', or in Microsoft-speak praise them as 'smart clients'," James E Fawcette writes. "I remember one consultant quoting an IT client, 'We paid $10 million for this application and I have to tell people: 'Be careful not to hit the Back button or hit Refresh'.'"

Although great strides have been made in browser application usability, we've a way to go before Windows-like smart clients are a thing of the past, he says.

If the CIA, the FBI and the NSA could have shared what each other knew before 9/11, there's a good chance the attacks could have been thwarted, say their critics. If there wasn't much sharing before, there is now, and Federal agencies are under enormous pressure to do more with less, including making information available to other agencies when needed.

And strategic SOA helps, says Jeff Simpson.

"Instead of a 'need to know doctrine', where agencies do not share information unless there is a specific need from some specific other agency, the doctrine now is better characterised as 'need to share'. Agencies need to begin proactively sharing data that is or may be useful to other agencies. The organisational preparation required for an agency to accomplish this reversal of doctrine should not be underestimated."

There's a big gap between the traditional enterprise architects and the new breed looking at the value of SOA. Dave Linthicum blogs about the difference and proposes a test to see whether your EA needs to be shown the door.

"Enterprise architecture, as a notion, has morphed from an approach for the betterment of corporate IT to a management practice, at least for some. Thus, the person that is needed to understand and implement the value of SOA is sometimes not the current enterprise architect in charge."

Thanks to Infoworld, EA Online and Government Computer News for this week's insight.