Internet has got a new dimension with RIAs (rich internet applications). A web page takes time to reload, while a desktop application allows quick interactivity since the application runs on the local drive of a user’s desktop computer. The reason to mention desktop application here is that a rich internet application behaves like a desktop application. Thus, the user interactivity is very high as there is a quick reaction time with no need to reload, unlike the web application. The result of this ‘no refresh’ feature is a speedy and lively interaction of end users with applications and thus an enhanced user experience.

We can say that the rich internet application development process has combined the best of desktop and web offerings and has revolutionized the way people use the internet today. Further on the line of benefit, the custom web application give freedom from the problems related to distribution that are generally faced by the desktop applications.

There are currently many frameworks utilized for rich application development like Java, Adobe Flex, Silverlight, and HTML5. Of these, Adobe Flex framework is quite popular as it allows the RIA developers to develop dynamically stunning RIAs quickly. Flex 4, the latest offering from the Adobe family, supports 3D animation, and with it, the developers are enabled to easily synthesize an elegant online display of multimedia.

RIA development allows its developers to embed streamlined video and audio clips into the website. The rich graphics help viewers to quickly grasp the information and animation displays make the websites lively. An aesthetic value is added to the content and it is brought to liveliness to catch the imagination of the end users. A video clip or animation or graphic display that provides rich information and is good enough to generate a ‘vow’ feeling is sure to sell like hot cakes. So, today if we see the spread of engaging content far and wide on the internet, it is because of the RIA development.