Web Services
Overview
Web services are generating much attention. Articles, books, and websites are extolling their benefits. Technology leaders claim web services are the next revolution (following the web and HTTP).
What are web services? Good question...and one that will generate many different responses. The resource section below offers a variety of definitions. One important concept is the capacity for applications to talk to each other - picture HTTP/ HTML as advancing the capacity of people to interact with data as a crude model...XML is concerned with allowing applications to talk to applications as easily as users talk to applications.
Bill Gates' definition of what web service actually do (or are supposed to do) may be helpful: "Many of us envision an online world where constellations of PCs, servers, smart devices, and Internet-based services can collaborate seamlessly. Businesses will be able to share data, integrate their processes, and join forces to offer customized , comprehensive solutions to their customers. The information you or your business need will be available wherever you are, and whatever computing device, platform, or application you are using."
Why are web services listed on an elearning resource site? I've followed discussions on the role of web services from business perspectives (with much confusion), and I'm convinced that web services will play a significant role for anyone doing business or delivering education on the Internet. As such, it may be helpful for educators to have a functional understanding of these developments.
| The potential of anywhere, anytime, any platform, any application computing is massive. As web services evolve and develop (particularly XML), gaining increased acceptance and use, their impact will be felt in education. |
Resources
XML,
Webservices, and the Changing Face of Distributed Computing
"A new kind of network offers a world of possibilities for moving
data and building application architectures centered around common Internet
protocols."
An excellent overview of web services...great illustrations to explain
concepts.
What's
a Web service?
"Broadly defined, a Web service is a method of making various applications
communicate with each other automatically over the Internet. The goal
is to streamline business processes by allowing software applications
to be delivered over the Internet and run across all kinds of computers,
from large servers to handheld devices."
Creating
and Consuming Web Services
"While Web Services are not intended nor do they have the power to
solve every distributed application problem, they are an easy way to create
and consume services over the Internet. One of the design goals for Web
Services is to allow companies and developers to share services with other
companies in a simple way over the Internet."
Top
10 FAQ's for Web Services
Excellent
Web
Services - Part 1
Web Services - Part
2
Web Services - Part
3
Lots of information...some of it technical.
Start
Writing Web Services Today
Quite technical.
How
to Create and Deploy XML Web Services
Microsoft site...using .NET and Office XP.
Arbortext
"Are you working too hard to publish your information in multiple
forms -- Web, print and others -- while keeping it fresh, consistent and
complete? Arbortext helps you solve that problem by creating a single
XML-based source of information and automating the publishing to all types
of media."
XML
Spy
"XML Spy now offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use product family
to facilitate all aspects of Advanced XML Application Development."
SoftQuad
"We enable organizations to easily create and work with the XML content
that is transforming the Web and e-business applications."
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