Rich Internet Applications

Rich User Experiences for Web and Mobile Enterprise Applications

Catalyst Resources is a leader in the design and development of Rich Internet Applications (RIA) with deep experience in designing application using Adobe Flex, Java, Microsoft Silverlight and WPF as well as AJAX/HTML 5, iPhone, Android and Adobe AIR.

In addition to designing rich and engaging software, Catalyst's enterprise RIA service delivers strategy, scalability, reliability and security. At the end of a Catalyst engagement, you have an updated application flow, selection of the best RIA technology (e.g. Flex, AJAX, Silverlight, etc) that matches your requirements and back-end, primary screen designs, high-fidelity prototypes for testing and validation, and complete coding of a reusable library of RIA elements. You end up with a complete strategy, design and UI component catalog for optimizing and building your business application.

Determining where your application UI will benefit from RIA technology

RIA user interfaces can dramatically improve the user experience of Web-based applications in many different ways. As part of an RIA engagement, a Catalyst team will review your application and identify where RIAs can offer the most dramatic impact and and best return on investment.

On the lightweight end of the spectrum, you can re-implement basic features of your Web application to be more responsive and offer visual pizzazz (e.g. Google-style "suggest" search box, background content loading, balloon help, tabbed displays, sortable tables, etc). On the other end of the spectrum, rich RIA clients can replace Web-based portals as a way to interact with Web services and SOA assets.

Clickable high-fidelity prototypes with the working UI kernel and dynamic data

As part of the buildable blueprint for Rich Internet Application Design, Catalyst typically provides a full clickable simulation model using dynamic data of exactly what that software will be like when it is released. Clickable models provide development teams, customers and potential users with a rich understanding of the experience and functionality a software application will provide.

Reusable and Modular UI Libraries

We re-factor UI designs into a customized library of UI components, data, and actions. When your distributed development teams have access to this UI library of modular, reusable code, they can save 85% in application front-end development cycles. The added benefits include increased consistency of function across applications, a standardized look, easier adherence to regulatory compliance standards and reduced QA time.

What you get with a Catalyst Resource RIA engagement

Catalyst Resources will rapidly design all of the functionality in an application - everything that a user would experience. The end result is a complete functional definition of the application UI - a buildable visual blueprint, and a validated Rich Internet Application component library. And we do this all in 100-120 days so you can then deliver your software project on time and on budget.

• 3-person multidisciplinary team assigned to your project
• On-going Web-based user validation
• Assessment of your current application to determine where RIAs would be effective in optimizing user experience
• Screen flow map of UI architecture based on high-value usage scenarios.
• Identification of key view types that could be RIA-enabled and then extended across the application
• Visual design for key view types in your software application that includes the RIA implementation with an updated look and feel
• Identification of modular reusable code components
• Assessment of RIA technologies and tools to use in your application to reduce development time and optimize UI performance
• Functional prototype coded in the selected RIA technology, based on key view types
• Full UI implementation plan that provides a 4-12 month road map for optimizing your application UI in the next release

Bottom line benefits of Catalyst RIA engagement

The benefits and ROI of an RIA engagement are tangible and dramatic:

• No Team Ramp-up
  An experienced UI design and development team will identify the most effective areas to use RIAs. This reduces the investment required to bring internal resources up to speed on any RIA project.
• Faster Time to Market
  We recommend an RIA strategy, design and UI components all within 10 weeks. This accelerates time to market & drives competitive advantage.
• Reduce Development Costs
  If you are working with an existing appliciton our designs only use RIAs where it will have meaningful impact. You implement in a focused and agile manner rather than trying to RIA-enable an entire application. This significantly reduces development investment and maximizes measurable returns.
• Eliminate Investment Decisions in the Wrong Technology
  Catalyst is experienced with a broad range of RIA UI tools and can ensure that you develop with the right components that match your requirements. You stop bad technology decisions from happening in the first place.
• Increase User Adoption and Reduce Support Costs
  Because the UI for your application will be designed by an experienced multi-disciplinary team and validated directly with users, the design will be optimized to deliver the most effective user experience. The result is sharply improved user adoption as well as reduced training, support, operating and deployment costs.