The user (browser) side implements e-commerce and mailing lists with HTML forms. Server side databases store this information. Cold Fusion goes between Web and database. Cold Fusion understands web-talk and database structure and characteristics. When users fill out and submit an HTML form, data entered is transmitted to the server in one Web message. Cold Fusion extracts this data, builds a database record from it and adds this record to the database. The database rejects bad data (like if the user entered his name in the date field) Cold Fusion sends the user an error message. Server owners install Cold Fusion to attract Web developers and business people. They may charge more for hosting a website because they offer a superior service. For Cold Fusion you need a server that offers it. Geocities might not have it. All major hosts will soon have Cold Fusion.
Cold Fusion replaces CGI, an earlier database-handling method. CGI sits on servers doing the same thing (go between Web-talk and database) but requires expert programming. Cold Fusion doesn't. It's much simpler. Cold Fusion markup language, denoted by the file extension .cfml, is similar to HTML. It uses tags. It looks like a special extension of HTML. Study database packages like ACCESS or DBASE. You define and create the database at your development site and upload it to the server. Also needed are database reports and queries so clients can see what's going on. There are legal responsibilities dealing with E-commerce. In the event of catastrophic data loss clients could be forced out of business and sue. Much responsibility rests with server owners. They're responsible for backup, anti-virus, etc. The Web developer must test his software up the kazoo, throw all kinds of curves at it - bad data, duplicate data, no data, strange keys hit, etc. Heard about FLASH?
Point-and-click for fewer future choices
More a butler than a muse
Texas-based Dell Computer surveyed 1,001 of the nation's 6.5 million people using the Internet at least once a week. Wish lists included renewing driver's licenses and license plates (90%) paying tickets (70%) voting (78%) editing photos (80%) doing laundry and watering lawns (50%) home security (67%) ordering groceries (47%) California has 8.3 million people online. The Bay Area accounts for over 25% statewide. The survey shows computers as central in daily life. Despite hype about computers as the focus of our future, users want computers to fade into the background as household appliances. Technology's purpose is to get out of the way, not to have a computer but to get something done. Computing does its best work when you can't tell it's there, like the computer controlling your car's fuel injectors.
Computers that crash get rave reviews in computer magazines. Computers are viewed as home-based taskmasters by visitors to Metreon's Microsoft store. Its banner proclaims, "Where do you want to go today?" According to passersby, not very far. Of 20 people questioned at Metreon, 18 want computers to handle chores like balancing checkbooks, controlling lights and avoiding DMV lines. "Computers were supposed to be our slaves. Now they take over. We should put them to work," said one, gesturing to the flashing screens and lights of Metreon's interior. Sacramento-based California Voter Foundation is cautious about online balloting. Privacy, security and fraud must be addressed before people are comfortable voting over the Internet. Security also blocks online DMV transactions. The DMV doesn't really want people standing in DMV field office lines but they do want to see in person those taking the license renewal test required every 15 years. Because of a 50% failure rate for that test there's a huge potential for fraud.
With increasingly complex computers, users like Randy Tamez struggle to make them perform simple tasks. Nearly blinded by a 1989 brain tumor, Tamez depends on his computer and special software for routine tasks like reading things. As the Internet and computers accessing it become laden with features he scrambles to keep up. "Advertising and marketing says hooray for this or that new computer feature but it leaves us in the dust. It's disheartening," said Tamez.