UI Fluidity: faster, smoother rendering and response time:

HTML websites are page-based, a new page has to reload every time the visitor request new information.

RIAs display the information without page reload, which results in faster responsiveness, can help keep the user focused and engaged, and allow for a smoother transition.

Comparison of flow in HTML and RIA

• Advanced Server Side Communication

In general each web page requires download using HTTP GET request. RIA uses asynchronous communication for faster responsive user interface bypassing the paradigm of loading web pages. RIAs use XMLHTTP Request for client-server communication.

• Presentation Richness:

This is one of the most important driving forces of using RIAs. Internet started as a medium of transporting documents and information, its infrastructure lacked the interactivity and richness of desktop applications.

However, with the widespread of broadband, increased time spent online, and the integration of the internet in business and marketing process, innovators developed technology for a richer user experience.

RIAs can deliver sophisticated interactive, graphics and multimedia enhanced applications.

Screenshot of picknik.com RIA

• Support for Connected and Disconnected States

RIAs can be browser or desktop based. The table below, from adobe.com, shows a comparison between RIAs in the browser and on the desktop. Desktop RIAs can work in offline mode and synchronize with the server when connected.

Browser RIA Vs. Desktop RIA

• Workflow Intelligence

RIAs can optimize the workflow in an enterprise to enhance the business process and productivity.

Brian Wick, director of LiveCycle at Adobe Systems says: “RIAs are especially suited for complex, multistep processes, consolidating multiple tasks into a seamless, individualized and visual user experience.

RIAs help BPM overcome one of its greatest challenges: the gap between an organization’s ability to automate processes and users’ readiness to participate in them. “

The dynamic data visualization in RIA can aggregate data from different sources in a dashboard. Employees can view and manage the information based on their roles.

Anatomy of RIA from an Adobe presentation