Length: 15 pages For Customer Experience Professionals
This is a Client Choice document
Ron Rogowski December 7, 2006
Smackdown: Rich Internet Applications Versus HTML
RIAs Demonstrate User Experience Value Compared With Static Interfaces
by Ron Rogowski
with Moira Dorsey, Steven Geller

This is a document excerptEXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Web users like rich Internet applications (RIAs) because they're easy to use. But how does the usability of RIA and HTML applications compare? To find out, we evaluated both. We looked for examples of rich Internet and HTML applications in each of four categories and compared how well they supported relevant user goals. We found that, on average, RIAs outperform HTML interfaces; at the same time, RIA usability can fall prey to basic design mistakes. To make the most of their investments, firms planning to invest in RIAs must apply design best practices and run multiple tests on their RIAs before — and after — they go live.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOTES & RESOURCES

itemHow Do Rich Internet And HTML Applications Compare?

itemOnly Five Out Of 22 Applications — All RIAs —Pass

itemRIAs Scored Higher For Practices That Enable User Efficiency . . .

item. . . But They Weren't Immune To Basic Design Flaws

recommendations

itemApply Design Best Practices To Get The Most Out Of RIA Capabilities

itemSupplemental Material

Forrester reviewed 22 Web applications across four categories: hotel search and reservation engines, mapping tools, PC configurators, and product finders.

Related Research Documents

itemBeyond Rich Internet ‘Applications'

September 13, 2006, Best Practices

itemWeb Users Want Rich Internet Applications

September 13, 2006, Trends

itemRich Internet Applications: Why And How

September 1, 2006, Best Practices

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Analyst: Ron Rogowski
Technology: Application Development, Architecture & Technology Strategy, Channel Design Strategies, Customer Experience, Design & Usability Processes, Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Architecture Domains, Social Computing & Web 2.0, Web Site Design
Geography: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America
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