Ajax for Better Experience

Jesse James Garrett has only one thing in mind when he helped developed Ajax into what it is today: to provide personal experience. Jesse James Garrett is known to coin the term “Ajax” and from there, the word and the technology spread like wildfire.

Now, Ajax is the focal point for technology in developing Web 2.0. Speaking on “The Rich Web Experience” conference in San Jose, California, Garrett emphasized on the Ajax idea not only they should give faster response times or cool codes to be added online, the idea of creating Ajax is to give something more informative and more personal to the user.

Its main purpose and concern is to communicate to the user, "In other words, we relate to technology products as if they were people," Garrett was quoted. He also sighted a couple of websites that has been on the forefront in using Ajax.

They have been the example on how good Ajax can be when used in its fullest extent. “I don't know if the concept of AJAX really taken off if it hadn't been for an example as compelling as Google Maps,” Garrett on the role of Google Maps to create better experience for the users.

We all know that Google Maps is not just another “bragging rights” tool for Google; rather it has become a tool for almost anyone whenever they have to go everywhere. The development stage of Google Maps that use Ajax is also the important point that Garrett wants to point out.

“With software development, there is a shift toward developing the user experience component first and working backward toward other components. Previously, developers started with a core of data and then dealt with business logic and then the user experience,” said Garrett.

Internet is not for any geeks anymore who tend to speak to the computer personally no matter what the framework or software is, rather it has become a tool for anyone. Everyone is now considering the internet for all forms of information and services.

Because of this, the internet has to revamp itself to give best services possible. Instead of people learning the internet, the internet has to learn from the people. And Ajax is leading the concept of better internet experience. Lastly are the toolkits.

There are hundreds of toolkits being released by software companies. Its aim is to sell these kits for proper implementation of Ajax. He acknowledged that it’s still in the maiden stage where no one really knows which is better, but we have to give it time before the public will acknowledge which one will stand out to be the best toolkit out there.

He also emphasized the need of creating a better experience not only for users but for the developers as well. These toolkits have to be powerful enough to eliminate the need of using too many codes. The Rich Web Experience is an annual event aiming to inform the public and educate the webmasters on the latest trends on Ajax development.