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Alternatives to Java and C# for Client-Side Imaging?

Posted by Cliff on from the rich-web-content-without-OS-locking dept.

SkyLeach asks: "I work for a medical company which wants to provide medical imaging solutions to their clients without having to install software on the clients' machines. We had been using Java, but this is becoming more and more difficult as the Microsoft VM becomes more outdated. According to this FAQ from Microsoft, java will receive no more support at all in the future. Without using a Windows-only solution such as ActiveX, what other options are there? Keep in mind that the only absolute requirement I have been given is that the physicians never be required to install anything on their computers: Sun's JVM and Microsoft .NET, included."

2 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Can't install anything? by Curien · · Score: 4, Insightful
    So let me get this straight. You want a solution that
    • is client-side
    • is platform-independent
    • requires nothing to be installed
    Usually, you can pick any two. What you might be able to do, though, is instead of having a "platform-independent" solution (in the Java or Flash sense), create solutions (eg, native executables) for multiple systems and have the server send the client the "right" one. I don't see how anything else could work.
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  2. No install means.....?? by dmorin · · Score: 4, Interesting
    In my experience there are two different things people mean when they say that a requirement is for nothing to be installed.
    • Installation is too complicated for the user, so make it as easy as possible by not installing anything. This is the major reason that browser plugins don't really take off until they come as part of the standard browser install. But, there are ways around this -- like sending a tech to the client site to do the install for them, if necessary. Or sending an auto-boot CD. Or Java WebStart. Lots of options.
    • Security requires a "clean" machine. Almost by definition you're never going to get a really clean machine,because you're adding an application to what is otherwise out of the box Windows. When I was working on a medical device years ago, our solution to this was to resell our own computers. We did all the installs and QA testing, handed it to them and said "Don't put anything *else* on it."
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    www.HearMySoulSpeak.com