Java fact file

Java applets: Java applets differ from Javascript in that they are stored in byte code files at the host site.  These files are down loaded to the client site where the client browser finally interprets the program at run time.  The applets are therefore platform independant and only need to be written once.

Examples of applets:

Nucleur Power Plant disaster management http://www.ida.liu.se/~her/npp/demo.html Students learn expert systems for disaster management (computer modelling).

The applet simulates the Karnobyl nucleur power plant's major components - the reactor - turbines - condensor.  Pumps and valves allow  allow control of the flow and pressures.  The reactor heats the water and the resulting steam drives the turbine.  The condensor cools the steam.  The pump transfers the condensed water back to the tank.

Disaster management skills are developed to handle turbine or water pump failure in a safe environment. The applet uses C based interface to integrate Java applet with a rule-based expert system of safety rules for operating a nucleur plant. Failure results in melt down of the reactor or an explosion.

CMOS Gate demonstration http://tech-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/applets/cmos/cmosdemo.html  is a computer based training program, using computer modelling to teach microchip gate logic. The student alters the input logics to different gate configurations and the computer indicates the efect on the outputs including revising a truth table for the given gate.

Map browser applet designed to demonstrate navigating a map. http://sunsite.utk.edu/winners_circle/unlimited/UNAL216J/applet.html

Estate agent  using an applet to sell houses  http://sunsite.utk.edu/winners_circle/internet/PN231VFD/applet.html

Simulates computer circuit board design: allows components to be connected together and fault diagnoses when the circuit is activated.  Identifies faults in the design stage for prototyping. http://sunsite.utk.edu/winners_circle/education/ED8N1T2l/applet.html

traffic simulation http://sunsite.utk.edu/winners_circle/unlimited/UNAL216J/applet.html

Turing machine http://sunsite.utk.edu/winners_circle/education/EDUHM0lH/applet.html

NPAC visible human viewer http://sunsite.utk.edu/winners_circle/education/EDOZ047X/applet.html

Voltage circuit simulator http://java.sun.com/applets/applets/contest/voltage/index.html is a computer based training program using computer modelling to teach Ohm's Law.  The student has to place the correct combiantio of battery voltage and resistors to light a bulb and prevent it from blowing.  The student drags the components to coonnect them into a circuit.  The bulb explodes if a wrong selection is made.

JavaScript: was written as an independant script language called live script by Netscape.  It was renamed as Javascript when Netscape got together with Sun to market it.  Script languages are embedded in other languages and are often written to carry out repetative procedures in another programs (macros run inside applicatioin software programs are other examples) .  The syntax of Javascript is almost identical to Java and the two languages were developed alongside one another.  Javascript is embedded with HTML web pages and runs on the clients own computer whereas java applets are usually down loaded from another host site while a web page is being accessed.  The programs are not saved on the client computer.