The Rich Internet Applications (or “RIA”) would give compelling competitive advantage, which is the same reason that helped the desktop GUI application won over then predominantly dominant character based and command line interfaces. Before the advent of the PCs, mostly software professionals or tech savvy scientists used the computers. The computer savvy people are well accustomed to and could remember all the DOS or UNIX/C-shell commands. Hence, they could be equally productive either on the C-shell/DOS prompt or on Windows-GUI interface.

The advent of graphical interfaces on the PC offered improved usability for the non-tech savvy. The PC became a business tool, for example, to create Spreadsheet, Word-documents and thousands of other business functions. The new users made it essential that the computers must be made simpler to use for non-technical staff, such as, secretaries, data-entry staff, knowledge workers to top decision makers. Most of them are neither software professionals nor computer savvy. The PC companies cleverly exploited this mass market to dominate the computer industry.

Those who are educated on UNIX and mainframe computers could type commands faster than, one could find and start the application or move to a new directory. Some of them may be more productive on UNIX’s C-shell-command prompt than on Windows-XP. For example, years of work made me more productive and comfortable on UNIX’s C-shell prompt and “VI-editor” than Windows-XP and TextPad. If you know all the commands and create rich set of aliases, one could type a word faster than one could find-icon and run command. But, such users are increasingly became small percentage of overall computer users. Besides, the ease of use and short learning made newer software graduates comfortable with visual interfaces, such as, Windows-XP. None of them are using C-shell/DOS prompt anymore.

New comers adapt to newer interfaces, even if they offer marginally better interface, while old users may differ until the newer interface offer larger improvements, which are compelling enough to move from the old interface that they are so much accustomed (or at their finger tips). For example, I still habitually use Yahoo maps (e.g. to get directions between two addresses). But, I like some unique features of Google maps and use them (e.g. to locate a place and explore the surroundings). Due to my familiarity, I am often more comfortable using Yahoo maps. If I get accustomed to Google interface, I may switch eventually. But, Yahoo may retain me by supporting the Google’s features that I like. On the other hand, I have been using Yahoo finance for over a decade, but switched to Google finance, since it offers a killer feature, I always wanted -- A zoom-in feature and tool-tip that displays exact stock-price in a week several years back.

Similar dynamics would make intuitive graphics intensive applications more compelling and win in the market in the future. For example, today the Internet is personal information tool to the masses. This is now bringing in many new users starting from, kids, housewives, and blue-collar workers to elderly. Also, large and growing middle class population in the developing countries such as, China and India are buying computers and accessing Internet in large numbers.

The new adapters would choose simpler, more responsive and graphically intuitive application. Most knowledge workers would prefer not loosing the GUI functionality, which they are accustomed to in their desktop applications, when they need to move their information systems and business applications online. Besides, in this age of increasingly growing information overload, everyone can agree that, more often than not, a picture is worth a thousand words. The ability to work with data in a format that is responsive, visual and more comprehensible is extremely important in terms of increased user productivity and decreased chances for making mistakes.