WHAT CBT DEVELOPERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BROWSERS, PLUG-INS, AND ACTIVEX Doug Foster, Oakes Interactive Inc. Jesse M. Heines, Univ. of Mass. Lowell

THE WHAT AND WHY Doug Foster Vice President of Operations Oakes Interactive Incorporated

Why are Intranets and the Internet so important to CBT developers? Centralization Central database or server Central distribution enables changes and modifications in the content to be made once. Reduced footprint and maintenance on client computers

Why are Intranets and the Internet so important to CBT developers? Distributed access Content available from any remote node Content available 24x7 Based on open standards Cross platform High competition

What applications of these technologies relate specifically to CBT? Centralization Centralized tracking of learner performance and progress (CMI) Central distribution enables changes and modifications in the content to be made once. Reduced footprint and maintenance on client computers

What applications of these technologies relate specifically to CBT? Distributed or Distance learning Reduced travel costs “Just-in-time, Just-enough” training Based on open standards Cross platform delivery Rapid improvements for reduced cost

How can use of an Intranet or the Internet enhance CBT for students? Access to content not created by CBT developer Time sensitive data is always up to date Legal requirements Changing product/industry information

What is the difference between an Intranet and the Internet? The Internet is a proper noun, it is one thing The Internet is an open system of network servers that can send a retrieve information available to the public. Anyone can contribute an additional web server to post information that anyone can access. The developer has no control over the Internet Unknown minimum configuration or bandwidth

What is the difference between an Intranet and the Internet? An Intranet is a private network based on Internet standards and protocols An Intranet is an internally controlled environment of web-servers that is accessible in a closed environment. The developer may have control on an Intranet Definable minimum configuration and bandwidth

What is the difference between the Web and the Internet The Internet supports many information delivery formats –Gopher, Archie, FTP - File Transfer Protocol, - SMTP, MIME, WWW - HTTP The web is one of those formats –HTTP - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol –HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language Typically viewed in a browser An Intranet can support one or all of these formats

What is a browser? A language interpreter Provides a standard look and feel to content An object container Is extensible by adding new objects Allows objects to interact with each other (Java applet can change the browser, or page displayed)

What are the ramifications of different ways to connect to Intranets and the Internet? Browser based Training and objects are viewed inside a browser interface Non browser based Other tools use Internet protocols to send/receive content and data

What are plug-ins and helper apps and why are they important? Plug-ins are language interpreters that gives your browser additional embedded functionality (Shockwave) Helper applications are another form of a language interpreter that allows you to view a file-type outside of the browser (Screen Cam or existing applications) They are important because they extend the standard functionality of browser.

What are the differences between plug- ins and helper apps? Plug-ins run inside the browser, and are security limited (cannot write to the local hard drive) Helper applications run locally, and have local access (can access the CD-ROM drive)

What can one do with plug-ins and helper apps? Launch a pre-existing CBT as a helper app (to allow integration with other Web based content) Extend pure HTML by integrating interactivity

Where does one get pre-written plug-ins and helper apps? components_download.html

What are the differences between various browsers?

How does one do Intra/Internet CBT without using a browser? The development tool must export to a Web supported format or allow Web files to be retrieved and displayed in the tool Visual basic has OCXs that allow embedding a browser IconAuthor support HTML objects, and HTTP address for any file type Authorware can be “shocked” for Web delivery ToolBook can create training in native Java and HTML

How can one control access to specific links that students should not be able to browse to? When using a CBT system with HTML capabilities, the training can evaluate what link has been selected and allow/deny access to that link

What is ActiveX and why is it important? It enables you to create and reuse customized controls. It can be created with tools that programmers are familiar with.

What are the primary benefits of ActiveX? Active web content with impact Cross-platform support Developed with familiar tools Abundance of controls available

What can ActiveX do? Controls - Interactive Objects Documents - Can view non HTML documents Scripting - Controls integrated in browser or server Server Framework - Provides web server-based functions such as security, database access etc.

What is an ActiveX control? ActiveX Controls are the interactive objects in a web page that provide interactive and user- controllable functions to a web site.

Where can I get ActiveX controls?

THE HOW Jesse M. Heines, Ed.D. Assoc. Prof. of Computer Science Univ. of Massachusetts Lowell CBT Artisan, Inc.

Chronology of Internet Tool Development HTML CGI Scripts Plug-Ins Helper Apps Java Script VB Script Java OLE  OCX  ActiveX figure by Kraig Brockschmidt, Microsoft

HTML Code Writing from scratch HTML editors –code helpers –WYSIWIG, e.g., FrontPage –need for designers, authors, and coders Maintaining links Transmitted by the server Interpreted by the browser

CGI Programs and Scripts Programmed in standard languages Program runs on the server Runs external to the browser Results sent over the ’Net Browser CGI Program Internet or Intranet Local System Remote System

Plug-Ins Programmed in a standard languages Program runs on the client Runs internal to the browser Results not sent over the ’Net Browser Local System Plug-In

Helper Apps Programmed in standard languages Program runs on the client Runs external to the browser, but on the same system Results not sent over the ’Net Browser Helper App System Bus Local System Local System

Java vs. Java Script and Visual Basic vs. VBScript In terms of this discussion, think of Java and Visual Basic generating Helper Apps (“applets”) –programs “known” by the browser that run on the client –run external to the browser Think of JavaScript and VBScript as Plug-Ins –programs that run “within” the browser –communicate with browser elements such as form controls

Demonstrations Java Applet VB 5.0 Program using an ActiveX Control Internet Explorer 3.0 using the same ActiveX Control

Thank You! Doug Foster Oakes Interactive, Inc. oakesint.com Jesse M. Heines University of Massachusetts Lowell Dept. of Computer Science cs.uml.edu