Web Applications

A web site is typically a series of web pages designed to promote or provide information about a certain business or subject. Although the site may have dynamic content utilizing a database on the back end and application code to process the information, this content is generally designed to be viewed by the user and not modified or processed. Perhaps the occasional info request or user registration page is presented. A web application differs in that it is designed to perform some function related to a business process as required by the enterprise. Accounting, Inventory Control, and Scheduling, are all good examples of this. As a result, the user interface for a web application needs to be optimized in such a way as to make data entry and processing efficient and accurate. The interface should assume some level of expertise on the part of the user in order to facilitate this. For example, an online shopping cart may be designed as a wizard with several steps to "walk you through" the process of making a purchase. Although this provides a user-friendly experience for the average web goer, it may not be a good approach for a web application that needs to process thousands of repetitive transactions. Unfortunately, many web developers do not realize this and their applications are neither efficient to use or convey the correct "image" of what a business application should be. This should not be underestimated as the impression created in the mind of the user of the application is affected greatly by the overall look and feel of the interface.