Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
There the user can select which slot in the child and which slot in the parent should
exchange values and also in which direction or directions this communication should
apply. When a slot connection is submitted the values will immediately synchronize
with each other, and any effect that may have on the compound Webble will activate.
In addition to these configurations, specific Webbles my offer several more tools
and input forms or interaction objects to even further configure the compound Webble
which the user is creating. For example the Event-Action Manager Webble which can
listen to events triggered by the platform, itself or, most useful, other Webbles and
based on the result of these events activate certain actions, has its own interface form
for setting up such event-actions.
Fig. 9.
The specialized interface for the Event Action Manager Webble takes the form of a
matrix
So in only a few minutes and with just a few Webbles, a simple gadget as an ana-
log clock or a calculator may be created, but with more work and complexity even a
whole RIA-style Webble application may be built that serves as a powerful tool or a
game for the users that interact with it. When this compound Webble, or Webble ap-
plication, has been finished, the Webble designer can save the creation, once again
simply as an XML Webble definition file, either locally or preferably at any online
Webble server. As soon as it is saved, it is now available for use by any Internet visi-
tor who may use the Webble World platform's Search tool to find Webbles online, by
name, description, developer or popularity.
Once loaded, the Webble will be working as the designer and the developer in-
tended, and the user can do what the Webble promise to achieve. The users are always
free to participate in further development of the Webble in use. It can be as simple as
text editing, or as advanced as adding or removing features to a Webble cluster by
customizing the present Webbles, by adding new ones, or by removing some of the
already existing ones. This new evolved Webble is now easily resaved back online for
further access and remakes. The original version remains unchanged and is available
as well.
