The University of Sheffield
Department of Computer Science

COM6504 The Intelligent Web

Summary

This module is concerned with gaining knowledge and understanding of the opportunities and challenges of the intelligent Web. We will introduce, study and apply contemporary technologies such as :  

  1.  The basic tools of the advanced Web and their implementation; 
  2.  Offline and multimodal interaction; 
  3.  Client server architectures; 
  4.  Web 3.0 and the Web of Data.

Students should be aware that there are limited places available on this course 

Session Spring 2023/24
Credits 15
Assessment
  • Assignment
  • Blackboard quiz
Lecturer(s) Dr Fatima Maikore & Dr Vitaveska Lanfranchi
Resources
Aims The Web will look quite different in five years’ time. This unit aims to discuss and understand the changes in Web technologies that are currently taking place, and to prepare students for the coming future. Such changes involve the use of advanced techniques to design and develop scaleable and multimodal web applications.  The aims of the module are:
  • to describe current approaches to the intelligent web
  • to develop students' skills in designing and developing scaleable and multimodal web applications.
Learning Outcomes 

On completion of this course, students should:

  • Design and/or implement scaleable and multimodal web applications using client-side and server-side frameworks. 
  • Discuss the key concepts of state-of-the-art intelligent web methodologies and how they can be applied 
  • Demonstrate in depth knowledge about the main language, standards and technologies of the Intelligent Web 
  • Understand and explain the trade-offs emerging from design choice when implementing scaleable and multimodal web applications 
Content
  • Part I: Setting the Scene: 
    • A history of the Internet and the Web 
    • Present and Future Web 
  • Part II: The basic tools of the advanced Web and their implementation
    • Client-server architecture   
    • Asynchronous and synchronous client/server connections 
    • HTTP and Streaming 
    • Accessing remote noSQL databases 
    • Bidirectional communication 
  • Part III: Offline and multimodal interaction  
    • The mobile Web: progressive web apps and hybrid apps 
  • Part V: The Web of Data 
    • Defining and accessing linked data
  • Part VI: Conclusions 
    • The future as seen from here
Restrictions This module assumes strong programming. The maximum number of students allowed on the module is 50.    
Teaching Method Students learn the course matter through a mixture of lectures, tutorials and laboratories. Each week there will be 2 hours of lecture/tutorials and from the third week of semester, 2 hours of supervised laboratory work.
Feedback Students will be provided with formative feedback during lab sessions.