Programming languages and functions

The use of existing and new programming languages have extended the capabilities of the Web What follows is a basic guide to a group of the more common languages and functions in use on the Web today.

CGI, Active Server Pages: CGI (Common Gateway Inter­face)refers to a specification by which programs can communicate with a Web server. A CGI program, or script, is any program de­signed to accept and return data that conforms to the CGI specifi­cation. A common use for a CGI script is to process an interactive form on a Web page. For example, you might fill out a form order­ing a book through Interlibrary Loan. The script processes your information and sends it to a designated e-mail address in the In­terlibrary Loan department.

Another type of dynamically generated Web page is called Active Server Pages (ASP).Developed by Microsoft, ASPs are

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HTML pages that include scripting and create interactive Web server applications. The scripts run on the server, rather than on the Web browser, to generate the HTML pages sent to browsers. Visual Basic and JScript (a subset of JavaScript) are often used for the scripting. ASPs end in the file extension.asp.

Java/ Java Applets: Javais probably the most famous of the programming languages of the Web. Java is an object-oriented pro­gramming language similar to C++. Developed by Sun Microsys­tems, the aim of Java is to create programs that will be platform in­dependent. The Java motto is, «Write once, run anywhere». A per­fect Java program should work equally well on a PC, Macintosh, Unix, and so on, without any additional programming.

Web-based Java applications are usually in the form of Java applets.These are small Java programs called from an HTML page that can be downloaded from a Web server and run on a Java-compatible Web browser. A few examples include live newsfeeds, moving images with sound, calculators, charts and spreadsheets, and interactive visual displays.

JavaScript/ JScript: JavaScriptis a programming language created by Netscape Communications. Small programs written in this language are embedded within an HTML page, or called ex­ternally from the page, to enhance the page's the functionality. Ex­amples of JavaScript include moving tickers, drop-down menus, real-time calendars and clocks, and mouse-over interactions. JScriptis a similar language developed by Microsoft and works with the company's Internet Explorer browser.

VRML: VRML(Virtual Reality Modeling Language) allows for the creation of three-dimensional worlds. These may be linked from Web pages and displayed with a VRML viewer. Netscape Communicator comes with the Cosmo viewer for experiencing these 3d-worlds.

XML: XML(extensible Markup Language) is a Web page creation language that enables designers to create their own cus­tomized tags to provide functionality not available with HTML. XML is a language of data structure and exchange, and allows de­velopers to separate form from content. At present, this language is little used as Web browsers are only beginning to support it.

UNIT 7

Real-Time Communication

Text, audio and video communication can occur in real time on the Web. This capability allows people to conference and colla­borate in real time.

Chat programs allow multiple users to type to each other in real time. Internet Relay Chat and America Online's Instant Mes­senger are prime examples of this type of programs.

More enhanced real-time communication offers an audio and / or video component. CU-See Me is one of the most popular software programs of this type. Even more elaborate are programs that allow for true real-time collaboration.Featured collaboration tools include:

• audio:conduct a telephone conversation on the Web;

• video:view your audience;

• file transfer:send files back and forth among participants;

• chat:type in real time;

• whiteboard:draw, mark up, and save images;

• document/application sharing:view and use a program on;

• another's desktop machine;

• collaborative Web browsing:visit Web pages together.

Push: Pushrefers to a technology that sends data to a pro­gram without the program's request. This is the opposite of the typical «pull» of the Web, in which the user clicks on a link to re­quest a file from a server. With push, the data is sent automatical­ly. Content is sent through a «channel». The early Web-based im­plementation of push was commercial. Push can also be used to deliver software upgrades to a desktop machine.

Let's discuss

1. Do you like to work on the Internet? Why?

2. Which search engine do you prefer to use? Why?

3. What do you like most about your internet activity?

4. What were (are) your major frustrations in your internet activity?

5. What are your most frequently recurring internet problems?

6. How would you advise someone:

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a To seek a job with the help of the Internet?

b To make friends with the help of the Internet?

с То look for some scientific information on the Internet?

d To take part in a chat with a nice company?

7. Suppose your best friend has bought a computer and is dreaming of the Internet but doesn't know how to go about it. Share with him your experience.

8. Suppose you are working for an internet company and want to enhance the number of your clients. Make up an advertisement.

Relax a bit

I give myself sometimes admirable advice, but I'm in­capable of taking it

M.W. Montagu

A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to be known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.

F. Allan

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.

O. Henry

The city is not a concrete jungle. It is a human zoo.

D. Morris Parking

«Tell me», said the policeman, «why did you park here»? The driver answered respectfully, «Because, you see, here is a sign 'Fine for parking'».

UNIT 7

Boxing

Old Tom was telling his grandson, Jack, about his days as a Golden Gloves contestant.

Tom: The bell rang and we met in the center of the ring. First

he threw a left cross, then a right cross. Jack: And what happened then? Tom: Then came a Red Cross. But by the third round I had my

opponent worried. Jack: Really?! Tom: You bet. He thought he killed me.

I've had three wives, six children, six grandchildren, and I still don't understand women.

John Wayne

Men don't understand anything about women and women understand nothing about men. And it's bet­ter that way.

Vittorio Gassman

I prefer the company of women. I'm buzzed by the female mystique.

Cuddling

Cuddling in the front seat of the car, Tom asked his date, «You don't shrink from kissing, do you?» Judy replied, «If I did, I'd be awfully small by now».

Confession

«Becky», said the bedridden man. «I can't die without telling you how rotten I have been. I stole one million bucks from the company, made an additional million by selling secrets to our competitors, and what's more I fired the accountant since I knew he was your lover».

«Don't worry about that», sighed Becky, «I'm the one who poisoned you».

Taking Computer for Granted

Risk

Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your zvings on the way down.

Ray Bradbury

They who lose today may win tomorrow.

Miguel De Cervantes

And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more.

Erica Jong

Doubt

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure* and the intelligent full of doubt.

B. Russel

*cocksure - very self-confident

Minidictionary

State-of-the-art - Any computer you can't afford.

Obsolete - Any computer you own.

Floppy - The state of your wallet after purchasing your computer.

Microseconds - The time it takes for your state-of the art computer to become obsolete.

Keyboard - The standard way to generate computer er­rors. An advanced input device to make computer errors easier to generate.

Mail

A blonde went to her mail box many times. Her neighbor no­ticed it. «Are you waiting for a special delivery?» asked he. «No», she replied «my computer keeps telling I have a mail».

UNIT 7

Hard work

The businessman came home absolutely exhausted. «My dear», asked his wife, «you must have had a hard day». «It was terrible», answered her husband, «our computer broke down and we had to do our own thinking».

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 873