Web-based simulation
Web-based simulation (WBS) is the invocation of computer simulation services over the World Wide Web, specifically through a web browser.[1][2][3][4] Increasingly, the web is being looked upon as an environment for providing modeling and simulation applications, and as such, is an emerging area of investigation within the simulation community.[4][5][6]
Application
Web-based simulation is used in several contexts:
- In e-learning, various principles can quickly be illustrated to students by means of interactive computer animations, for example during lecture demonstrations and computer exercises.
- In distance learning, web-based simulation may provide an alternative to installing expensive simulation software on the student computer, or an alternative to expensive laboratory equipment.
- In mobile web browsers, without the need of target hardware or locally installed emulation software.
- In online computer games, 3D environments can be simulated, and old home computers and video game consolescan be emulated, allowing the user to play old computer games in the web browser.
- In medical education, nurse education and allied health education (like sonographer training), web-based simulations can be used for learning and practicing clinical healthcare procedures. Web-based procedural simulations emphasize the cognitive elements such as the steps of the procedure, the decisions, the tools/devices to be used, and the correct anatomical location.
Client-side vs server-side approaches
Web-based simulation can take place either on the server side or on the client side. In server-side simulation, the numerical calculations and
VNC
Java applet.
In client-side simulation, the simulation program is downloaded from the server side but completely executed on the client side, for example using
Java applets, Flash animations, JavaScript
, or some mathematical software viewer plug-in. Server-side simulation is not scalable for many simultaneous users, but places fewer demands on the user computer performance and web-browser plug-ins than client-side simulation.
The term on-line simulation sometimes refers to server-side web-based simulation, sometimes to
symbiotic
simulation, i.e. a simulation that interacts in real-time with a physical system.
The upcoming
multi-agent-simulation applications which are deployed on cloud-computing instances and act independently. This allows simulations to be highly scalable.[clarification needed
]
Existing tools
- AgentSheets – graphically programmed tool for creating web-based The Sims-like simulation games, and for teaching beginner students programming.
- AnyLogic – a graphically programmed tool that generates Java code for discrete-event simulation, system dynamics and agent-based models
- Easy Java Simulations – a tool for modelling and visualization of physical phenomenons, that automatically generates Java code from mathematical expressions.
- ExploreLearning Gizmos – a large library of interactive online simulations for math and science education in grades 3–12.
- FreeFem++ Javascript Version[8] – FreeFem++[9] is a free and open source PDE solver using the finite element method.
- GNU Octave web interfaces – MATLAB compatible open-source software
- BPMN2.0
- Nanohub – web 2.0 in-browser interactive simulation of nanotechnology
- NetLogo – a multi-agent programming language and integrated modeling environment that runs on the Java Virtual Machine
- OpenPlaG – PHP-based function graph plotter for the use on websites
- OpenEpi – web-based packet of tools for biostatistics
- Recursive Porous Agent Simulation Toolkit(Repast) – agent-based modeling and simulation toolkit implemented in Java and many other languages
- SageMath – open-source numerical-analysis software with web interface, based on the Python programming language
- SimScale – web-based simulation platform supporting computational fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and thermodynamics
- StarLogo – agent-based simulation language written in Java.
- dynamical systems
- webMathematica and Mathematica Player– a computer algebra system and programming language.
- VisualSim Architect – VisualSim Explorer enables system-level models to be embedded in documents for viewing, simulation and analysis from within a web browser without any local software installation.
See also
- List of online spreadsheets
References
- .
- CiteSeerX 10.1.1.37.4216.
- ^ Page, E.; Opper, J. M. (2000). "Investigating the Application of Web-Based Simulation Principles within the Architecture for a Next-Generation Computer Generated Forces Model." (PDF). Future Generation Computer Systems 19: 159-169.
- ^ a b Byrne, James; Heavey, Cathal; Byrne, P.J. (2006). "SIMCT: An Application of Web Based Simulation.". Proceedings of the 2006 Operational Research Society (UK) 3rd Simulation Workshop (SW06), 28-29th March, Royal Leamington Spa, UK.
- ^ Guru, A.; Savory, P.; Williams, R. (2000). "A Web-based Interface for Storing and Executing Simulation Models.". Proceedings of the 2000 Winter Simulation Conference, Orlando, Florida.
- S2CID 11277437.
- ^ Mobile Web and App Development Testing and Emulation Tools, Specky boy design magazine, April 12, 2010
- ^ "Index - FreeFem++-js 17.1". www.ljll.math.upmc.fr. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "FreeFem++". freefem.org. Retrieved 2018-12-01.