ETTK (Emerging Technologies ToolKit) Community

The Emerging Technologies Toolkit (ETTK) is a collection of technologies from IBM's software development and research labs relevant to IBM's emerging software strategy. An "ETTK package" showcases emerging technology areas with potential to create innovative business solutions for our industry. These packages provide tools, example code, documentation and executable demos so technologists can learn about and contribute to these technologies. This ETTK Community shares information and experiences using these ETTK technologies.

*Join the community* and help evolve the most promising emerging software technology. Contribute ideas, experiences and offer help to fellow developers and IBM researchers.

Want to have easy access to all the ETTK has to offer? Then consider downloading the Emerging Technologies Explorerto give your Eclipse-based IDE everything it needs to explore ETTK-related documentation, on-line and locally-installed demos, tools, and community resources like wikis and blogs. The Explorer will also help install integrated ETTK Eclipse-based technologies.

ETTK Technology Community Areas

The following topic areas are currently part of the ETTK. Click on the technology title for its wiki page. To download a technology, click on "aW site" to go to that technology's alphaWorks page. For a complete list of technologies that are part of the ETTK, please visit our IBM alphaWorks ETTK Portal.

Eclipse
Emerging Technologies Explorer (aW site)
Security Workbench Development Environment for Java (aW site)
Visual XForms Designer (aW site)

Graphical User Interfaces
Rule-based Accessibility Validation Environment (aW site)
Reflexive User Interface Builder (aW site)
Visual XForms Designer (aW site)

Network Interaction
BeepLite Networking Layer (aW site, Links & Reviews)
Fluid Sync (aW site)
Reliable Asynchronous Message Profile (RAMP) Toolkit (aW site)

RFID (RFID Links & Reviews)
Application Level Events (ALE) Preview for RFID (aW site)

Web services
Ad Hoc Development and Integration (aW site, Card Repository )
ETTK for Web Services (aW site)
Reliable Asynchronous Message Profile (RAMP) Toolkit (aW site)
Semantic Tools for Web Services (aW site, Links & Reviews, FAQ, Samples )
WSDM Browser for CIM and OSGi (aW site)

XML Technologies
Compound XML Document Editor (aW site, Links & Reviews)
Virtual XML Garden (aW site)
XML Enhancements for Java (aW site, Links & Reviews, FAQ)
XML Forms Generator (aW site)

Got an idea for a new technology or an enhancement to an existing technology that you'd like to see? Please enter it on our Proposals page. Have a creative solution or new way of using an ETTK technology? Please consider contributing to our FAQ section.

IBM alphaWorks ETTK Portal

ETTK Blog

ETTK Technology Forums

Here are the latest entries on the ETTK Blog.

Inside Emerging Technologies (rss_2.0) (Emerging Technologies You Need to Know)
Niko Bellic versus Tony Stark, the Aftermath The beginning of May 2008 saw the launch of two entertainment blockbusters, Iron Man and Grand Theft Auto 4, each of which had a lucrative opening week. GTA4 got things started with a $500 Million opening week, shattering the old record held by Halo 3.  In fact, GTA4 made more in its first day than the previous Halo 3's opening week. Although pundits suggested the Iron Man opening could be impacted by GTA4 fans busy playing at home, it also had an impressive $100 Million opening weekend, raking in over $200 Million worldwide. And most of those economic stimulus checks have not even been sent out yet. Jim Hsu p.s.  60 percent of the GTA4 sales were on XBox 360.
Leadership Old, Leadership New and Leadership Navy Blue I observe that the main difference between our generation of managers and those raised on the Internet is that we grew up in a world where Knowledge is Power. Getting ahead often meant knowing the most. They grow up in a world where Everyone Knows and where the Sharing of Knowledge is Power. For our organizations to succeed in this transition, we must be coaches more than managers so that our employees can be players more than spectators. This behavior is different than we're used to and will require commitment, character and courage - hallmarks of leadership. Leadership, like innovation, assumes many forms and representations: IBM's announced this morning that our VP for Innovation & Technology, Nick Donofrio, will retire in October. We dreaded this notice. Every time he addressed us, his candid, simply insightful and passionate remarks informed every employee of an IBM that was and strives to be in this uncertain and exciting time. After forty-four years with the company (he and System 360 joined in 1964) he won't be replaced - 'cause we can't. I hope that you had the chance to read the description of the women's softball game in Ellensburg, Washington last month between Central Washington and Western Oregon. Sara Tucholsky of WO hit a home run to put her team into the lead. Rounding first base, she twisted her knee, falling to the ground unable to continue around to home plate. The game's rules prevent teammates from assisting one of their own players around the bases. No problem. Two players from the opposing Central Washington team carried Sara to second base, to third base, and to home plate so that her hit would count. On Saturday, the USS North Carolina, SSN -777, was commissioned into naval service in Wilmington, North Carolina. This nuclear-powered submarine is about 350' long with a crew of about 140 and can be required to patrol underwater for up to 60 consecutive days. If you're ever doubtful of the caliber of our young Americans or want to observe the power of purpose, please take a tour of one of these impressive boats. Now you know a little bit of what I know, please put it to use. Nick would appreciate it. c.perrien
Mashup Quality: It's all about the Data There's been some recent articles about how to create mashups that I've have found interesting.   For instance, David Storm wrote an article about the seven steps toward creating your first enterprise mashup.   Of the steps he listed, Step #2 "Pick your data sources", I feel is the most important.  Actually, it's really a matter of finding and determining whether you can actually access various data sources in the format you need them in.   Within an enterprise, data is stored in a variety of locations and in different formats.   A lot of data is not even accessible by other users.    In many cases, data is not even under the control of a corporate IT shop.   For example, some mission critical data resides on individual's computer hard drives.   Think of all the spreadsheets that are being used.  When people need to share this data, they usually just send them to each other via email.   In this case, people have to figure out who has the most recent copy and then the email them around and the cycle continues over and over again. IBM's Mashup Center , a product which has been recently announced, addresses some of these concerns.   The InfoSphere MashupHub component of this product provides a catalog as well as a way to retrieve data from departmental, personal, and enterprise information.   For example, data can be uploaded from a spreadsheet and then be transformed into a feed that can be used within a Mashup Application.   This data can be easily found by searching the catalog and by subscribing to the feed, business users can retrieve the most recent data.  Social networking and community ratings help users find "quality" data sources rather because other people can provide comments and point to other mashup examples that use the data sources.   The enterprise IT shop can also regulate who gets control of the data feed and start to provide a culture that people don't always store mission critical data on their personal hard drive.   Data from various sources such as DB2, IMS, LDAP, pureXML, SAP, Web Services, Excel, RSS feeds, Access, and Domino can be retrieved, manipulated into various formats the users needs, and then cataloged for other people to use and share. You'll be hearing more about the IBM Mashup Center with a series of future articles on the IBM developerWorks site.    Stay tuned... John Feller IBM Emerging Technologies Development