is it possible to create a 'localised refresh' instead of a full-page auto-refresh?

[canadianjameson]

Just out of curiosity, is 'localised refreshing' even possible?

Its a concept whereby the server could auto-update the contents of a div or a specific ID without refreshing the entire page.

it could be usefull for things such as scoreboard pages of games in session, stock market pages, weather pages, etc

basically anything where realtime stats are being conveyed, whereas now a 'timed refresh' of the entire page occurs, this would illiminate the need for that

[Kravvitz]

AJAX (http://www.google.com/search?q=AJAX+%7Etutorial) can be used for that.

[canadianjameson]

is it an actively employed method or just theoretical at this point?

[SpirtOfGrandeur]

It is used all over the place...

[canadianjameson]

lol,

alrightythen, one less idea for me to try to pioneer :D

[brothercake]

alrightythen, one less idea for me to try to pioneer :D
Don't think like that mate! It's widely used, yeah, but it's widely used badly. There are many many usability and accessibility issues, which at this stage are unsolved.

There's loads of pioneering work to be done in this area, so if that's what you're looking for, this is an ideal candidate :thumbsup:

[canadianjameson]

lol thanks brothercake!

I had forseen its use on pages like the stock exchange etc where the data being viewed, while static in that moment, is dynamically changing all the time. This would allow the page to be in a constant state of transition without requiring the delay of a full page load.

I figured, not knowing if the technology existed at all, that if it didn't it should.

That being said my technical expertise is limited: i'm an ideas man.

I have another project that I got help for here and wanted to take further but, alas, lacked the coding knowhow to do so.

it was this: www.enviromark.ca/timetable/demonstration.htm

we tried to add serverside database capabilities but the project died because no body knew how to / had the time. this was a final attempt: http://www.enviromark.ca/timetable/cjfp3.php

shame, could have been interesting

anywhoo... I'll keep out an eye for how the refreshing code improves and try to add my two cents where I can

[SpirtOfGrandeur]

I siad back then you guys should use ajax to finish that project, it would be really easy...

[canadianjameson]

lol yea but at the time, as is the case now, no body who was active on the project knew much about the serverside end.... and because nobody wanted to pick up the project it died.

I dont have ANY serverside knowhow. i'd love to get the project moving again but unless you or someone with equivalent expertise wants to help... i dont see how it can be done

[Brandoe85]

I siad back then you guys should use ajax to finish that project, it would be really easy...
The ajax wasn't the problem. The problem arises in comminicating with the cell phone ;)

[canadianjameson]

agreed, and for the moment that is not technologically possible.

I wanted to get the framework in place and get the web app ready in all its glory, and from there actually approach the phone companies and suggest the modification on their end (a change which would not be hard).

anyone feel like helping me with the coding? see it sounds odd but having a working 'prototype' would go a long way.

the advantage of the system is clear, but the pitch doesn't work without a "and see how it works" line

[SpirtOfGrandeur]

No company would allow this to happen... there are way to many dangers. I do know that Nextel has something like this though. Where the phones can use Java to hit data on the internet and then change its settings accordingly. I did something small like that for a company out here in Michigan...

I mean just think of it if a computer could connect to a phone. The amount of viruses, and internet time people would have to pay for would be out of control.

[raf]

I had forseen its use on pages like the stock exchange etc where the data being viewed, while static in that moment, is dynamically changing all the time. This would allow the page to be in a constant state of transition without requiring the delay of a full page load.
ajax is still a pull-mechanisme where the client pulls in the content from the server. just the classic request-response http model.
for a propper implementation of your stock-exchanges, you actually need a push-mechanisme, where the server (with your stocks data) pushes new content to the client (without requiring any request from the client).

[canadianjameson]

No company would allow this to happen... there are way to many dangers. I do know that Nextel has something like this though. Where the phones can use Java to hit data on the internet and then change its settings accordingly. I did something small like that for a company out here in Michigan...

I mean just think of it if a computer could connect to a phone. The amount of viruses, and internet time people would have to pay for would be out of control.

I do see your point with regard to the security issues, and that was actually the main reason why I havent tried harder to finish this.

That being said, Blackberries et al connect to the internet all the time, and surfing the web on a cell phone would fall into that category aswell. I truly do see this functionality being implimentable at some point in the future... even if it isn't a web-based app but a software that required the user to connect the phone to the comp via usb or a dock.

I just think the functionality would be very cool and usefull to have

[SpirtOfGrandeur]

Yes the phones are starting to be able to connect to the web to get data and software is using that. BB's are just one of the numerous things that can do this. And it is a great idea, you should really stick on it. But you’ll have to work both the web side and the phone side... you would need a true programmer!

[canadianjameson]

lol, well then i shall put on my billyboots, scurry down to the market, and pick one up pronto!

few random questions then:

In your opinion, is this best suited to a web based app or a software based app?
What exactly do you think the cell phone manufacturers would need to change on their end? I figured that it would be possible to utilize the phone's database structure currently employed for the phones calendar (which every phone has but is rarely used). The only changes that i saw as required were a tie-in between ringer-states (which are already changable via buttons and therefore must have some index) and the calendar. I don't know how hard that would be to do but I can't forsee it being huge. Apart from that they'd just have to allow the calendar to be remotely updated, which could be quite secure as "any value that does not conform to 'X' format would be rejected".
Would you say it would be a stretch if eventually ringtones were managable via a web interface aswell -- a tangential add-on to this idea?


just thinking outloud