d.Construct 2005

I was lucky enough to get a place at d.Construct 2005 and I am looking forward to what should be a fascinating discussion of Web 2.0 and Ajax. What really interests me is getting involved in a long overdue debate about the design and functionality of modern web-based applications.

I must admit that at the moment I am a bit sceptical about some of the language; “how new technology is transforming the web from a document delivery system to an application platform” and grandiose sounding Web 2.0.

I have created a few web-based applications using remote scripting before the availability of the XMLHttpRequest object. They where based around using the IE Java proxy or reloading hidden frames. This was about five years ago, since then I have always resisted building web interfaces with any type of remote scripting because of compatibility and asynchronous load issues.

The advent of common DOM and the use of the XMLHttpRequest object has sparked a re-evaluation of client server communications. The current buzz around Ajax is starting to make me rethink some of my own objections to using this technology.

I will be going to the event with an open mind hoping that the speakers can convince me there is a new model for building web-based applications. Also that this new model will change how we view web-based applications. It may take a little longer to convince me to use the phraseology (Web 2.0).

The conference is being held in my home town of Brighton, in fact only a few hundred meters from my office. For years Brighton has fostered a growing web design and development community and I hope we will see a few more events like this.