Does anyone here have any server-side script that communicates with components loaded onto web pages or as browser add-ons?
I'm interested in learning what kinds of applications you are developing with these kinds of 'interactive' technologies.
As for myself, we developed a custom toolbar system (like Alexa, Google, etc.), but one that is 'programmed' by modifying an XML file located on the web server.
Unfortunately, so far, we haven't had very many people develop really cool, interactive applications for it -- and am hoping to get some ideas here.
The way our toolbar works, when a browser window opens, the toolbar goes to the web server to look at the XML file. The XML contains all the configuration of the toolbar including all buttons, menus and links. The complete 'look and feel' plus commands are configured there.
By changing the XML on the server, every deployed toolbar can be completely reconfigured.
Where things get cool is if the XML file is generated DYNAMICALLY -- for example
http://www.myserver.com/toolbar/mytoolbar.asp (using a script instead of a static XML file). This lets you do some REALLY cool stuff.
For example, before sending the XML to the toolbar, the script can read the client's cookie. It then can know who the client is. Use that information to do a database lookup, and, depending on what you know about the client -- you can present a completely CUSTOMIZED toolbar for each and every user.
The server could save 'state' information -- such as where the user last was on a site, or in a training program, and present buttons and links on the toolbar that would put the user back where they left off and restore 'context'.
Not much interactivity yet though -- only reading a cookie, and sending back a custom toolbar.
The toolbar is also able to communicate with the server -- by sending the URL that the user is currently viewing and using THAT to prompt the database lookup and return the XML. This opens up the ability to present 'contextual' advertising on the toolbar, popups and all kinds of fun (but potentially nasty) things. However -- still not much in the way of interaction.
We do have the ability to have standard controls on the toolbar like checkboxes and text boxes. At the moment, the most exciting use is to have a search box on the toolbar that fires off queries on different search engines. Still, not much interactivity!
The toolbar can have an HTML Area (basically a 20-pixel high IE browser window). Within this area any web page can be displayed including Java, JavaScript, Flash, Shockwave, ActiveX -- basically any technology or plug-in that the browser supports. This has the POTENTIAL to give the kinds of interactive applications I'm interested in hearing about -- but so far, nobody is USING it.
What I'd like to hear about are things like chat applications, or Java Applets or ActiveX controls that people are using to provide REAL interactive applications to the browser window. Something really cool and exciting.
Sorry for the long post -- but I wanted to try and clarify what I was looking for.
Anyone have any ideas?
Marty R. Milette, P.Prog.
CTT+, MCT, MCSE+I, MCP+SB, MCSA, MCSD
Custom Toolbars
