Synchronization of Web Applications

As discussed in previous chapters, the Internet and web have been regarded as one of the most promising technologies that are expected to have profound impacts on product design and manufacture. Though significant progress has been made, the developments are still at the starting phase. Conventional web applications generally address two dimensions of distribution, namely geographical and specialisation. However, they do not sufficiently address the time dimension of distribution. This is mainly because the traditional approach of the Internet technology does not directly support the collaborative forms of information sharing (Bentley et. al., 1997). Accessing information on the web is unidirectional, asynchronous, and limited by a simple client/server model in which only predefined data are provided (Frivold et. al., 1995). Obviously, this kind of information flow is not suitable for supporting the geographically distributed working teams. Instead, bi-directional, synchronous web-based design tool is necessary for providing awareness inside and outside the group and discussing the concept in different geographical locations simultaneously (Tuikka, 1997).