Using Java To Develop Educational Engineering Software

One of the most exciting recent developments in software technology is Java , the programming system developed by Sun Microsystems Inc. 1 Since its introduction in early 1995, both the technical and mainstream press have been filled with articles about how Java will revolutionize the nature of the World Wide Web (WWW), client/server application development, and the economic model for software delivery. With all of the media hype, it is easy to lose sight as to what Java is, and why it is so interesting. For many people, Java is simply a way to add “flash” to otherwise static WWW pages. However, what is truly exciting about Java is that, for the first time, it is possible to write highly interactive, graphical applications which are platform-independent and can be transported across the WWW. These features, combined with the availability and pervasiveness of the Internet and WWW, make Java an attractive tool for developing and distributing educational software.