Messages from Usenet group comp.lang.idl-pvwave, compiled by Paulo Penteado
RESEARCH SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES ION (IDL ON THE NET) Using Java and Internet technology, ION delivers powerful data analysis and visualization capabilities to Web clients BOULDER, Colo. -- Research Systems, Inc., a developer of multi- platform technical visualization and application development software, today announced that ION (IDL on the Net) will be available in December. ION is an easy-to-use, web server-based system that brings the power of Research Systems' IDL (Interactive Data Language) to Internet clients. ION is designed for organizations with employees around the country and/or around the world who need to access, visualize and analyze shared data. ION can reside on the customer's public web server, a proprietary intranet server, or both. ION allows access to IDL's advanced analysis and visualization capabilities from virtually any computer in the world. Updating and maintaining ION is simple, as the product resides only on the web server, not on the desktop clients. ION is a sophisticated Internet implementation of IDL 5.0, Research Systems' fourth-generation programming language (4GL) for engineers, scientists and software developers building data analysis and data visualization applications. Because ION is built on IDL, applications already written in IDL can be easily converted for access over the Internet, making the product immediately useful for existing IDL customers. In addition, ION is simple to use,requiring only basic knowledge of IDL and HTML. Pre-built Java applets are included with the product, so there is no need to become a Java programmer to use ION. However, full Java integration is provided for those users who wish to develop custom Java applications that work in concert with ION. The ION product consists of three components, which share a hierarchical relationship: ION Java Applets, ION Graphic Component Java Classes, and ION Java Classes. ION Java Applets are pre-built Java applets that produce IDL- generated graphics. Requiring no programming, the ION Java Applets represent the easiest method for users to display IDL images on a web page. ION Graphic Component Java Classes provide a rapid and efficient method of integrating IDL-generated graphics into an existing Java application. ION Java Classes bring full-featured IDL to web-based clients, giving Java programmers the ability to build IDL applications that can be distributed over the Internet. ION OPERATING SYSTEM SUPPORT ION will support Windows NT and all popular versions of UNIX, including Linux and Solaris X86. In keeping with its web-based nature, every effort will be made to make ION a "virtual product". Customers will download ION from Research Systems' website and all documentation will be online in the form of a hypertext- based help system. Additional information can be obtained at Research Systems' home page: http://www.rsinc.com, or by email to info@rsinc.com. IDL is a registered trademark of Research Systems. All other company, product or brand names are the property of their respective owners.