[SIMS] SIMS Web version

[localzuk]

Well, PARS (a third part product) is a web interface to many parts of SIMS.net...

[pete]

And the "Thin Client problems" haven't affected any of my staff who can access SIMS via terminal server on their laptops / thinstation boxes.

[Ravening_Wolf]

And the "Thin Client problems" haven't affected any of my staff who can access SIMS via terminal server on their laptops / thinstation boxes.

Ditto.

[Abaddon]

Me either, through the Citrix Portals, either internally or externally...

[mark]

Capita have about 90% market share for MIS systems in education uk. I would think they have little motivation to do what customers want, that is until the threat from competitors is great enough.

[Ravening_Wolf]

I agree Mark. I think they have fallen into the same trap RM did whereby they think they have an unassailable market share.

[glensc]

This is Capita's resoning AGAINST having a web based version of SIMS .net - what do people think of this?

Stikes me as the sort of document someone in manglement who didn't want to do it would present to a bunch of people who hopefully wouldn't understand it. In which case it's probably very convincing

Just a quick edit to be fair and reflect the info on Phil's post a couple below this one:
Yep 4 years would make a difference to my opinion of the document.

[sparkeh]

*Ugh* And thought my opinion of Capita couldn't sink any lower.

This smacks of everything that is bad about IT Monopolies. The document basically says "No we won't be doing it as we are the dominant player and have no need to change (and its not like you can even vote with your feet) so here is some techno garbage to confuse and placate you."

[PhilNeal]

The document is at least 4 years old. If we are circulating it still then someone has made a mistake. Browser technology has moved on.

We invested over £50m in development alone since 2000. Not exactly taking our postion for granted.

We released Web Parts two years ago. The next generation is due out in September 2007.

[mrforgetful]

What does Web Parts do? What will the new versio noffer in September?

[JohnCondon]

I believe both Bromcom and CMIS are web-based.

I'll leave Phil to give answers for SIMS future development.

But to confirm Ravening_Wolf's statement. The Bromcom software suite has been almost completely Browser based and SQL back-ended since 2001 and the forthcoming MIS product (Oct 2007) will be likewise.

[Ravening_Wolf]

The Bromcom software suite has been almost completely Browser based and SQL back-ended since 2001

Gee....That means Bromcom were doing what Capita deemed impossible two years before Capita said it was impossible...

[NetworkGeezer]

Be careful what you wish for. I have yet to meet a browser application that is good to use a fat client app.

Sure a web version might make for easier deployment to clients ( bypassing update-hell at least on the client side) and use on Linux/MacOSX possible but I am really not looking forward to supporting a web version of Profiles or Assessment Manager

[sparkeh]

I am really not looking forward to supporting a web version of Profiles or Assessment Manager

I hate the way it is at the moment, could anything be worse?

[PhilNeal]

NetworkGeezer has it exactly - In my view Google has done a pretty good job with its browser based spreadsheet and word processor applications but I don't think you will find many browser applications offering the type of flexibility that is possible in a client application yet - Google falls short but it is amazing to see what they have achieved.

Our passion is in supporting educationalists achieve their aims, we are guided by our user base as ultimately we have to deliver what they need. Mostly they don't care about the technology but they do care about managing their schools and that is what we concentrate most of our efforts on doing for them.

The new web parts are designed to work with MOSS 2007 and offer more flexibility in their deployment than the current versions. Our development philosophy is to provide appropriate solutions so at the moment the client software is designed to meet teacher, admin and management requirements. The web parts are aimed at providing a browser based alternative to teachers for the tasks that they routinely undertake i.e. assessment, attendance, reporting etc. There are also web parts for parents and pupils.

I apologise for detailing product information on your site but felt that a ball was rolling based on assumptions that weren't accurate.