WIND: An interaction lightweight programming model for geographical web applications

Abstract

Recent research has attested the implementation and the effectiveness of Geographic Information Systems in geographic teaching (Kerski [J Geog 102(3):128-137]; Demirci [Am J Appl Sci 5(3):169-178]). Different works and experiments have shown that current Web Mapping Services and frameworks are partially unfitted for the design and easy programming of web applications dedicated to the teaching of geographic information. Our research problem is enabling teachers to design by themselves an Active Reading Learning Scenario (Murray T (2005) Hyperbook features supporting active reading skills. In: Chapter 8, Web-based intelligent e-learning systems: technologies and applications, pp. 156-174) making use of geographical information avoiding any programmer intervention. In this article, we report on Web Interaction Design (WIND), a web interaction lightweight programming model that we designed to help users to describe interactions between textual, map and calendar components. We present the core concepts of WIND (eventreaction- interaction processing), its API and we illustrate the WIND model with different examples. The main characteristics of WIND are then presented and discussed: WIND is integrative (it combines textual, map and calendar components; it also combines Web Mapping Services, etc.). It is fully executable (thanks to the WIND JavaScript API). WIND promotes lightweight programming. It is object-oriented: users can consistently describe interactions whatever the source and target components are. WIND is a declarative model enabling users to design web interactions between textual, map and calendar components. We present different examples and source codes that pinpoint the added-value of the WIND model and its API.