I started following this thread late, but it sounds as if you are looking for a flex+rails type of setup. Am I reading that right? Rails is often thought of for ecommerce, and it is excellent in that role. When you step out of that role, role, rails usually falls apart as a desirable solution very quickly. One exception is as middleware for a client server app. The end client could be flex (aka flash), all fancy and user friendly. The interface would establish a connection to a server (secured if needed) and send messages as xml, or even better a json. The Rails server would then act in proxy for the client and obtain the result from your back end app. Rails would then respond back, probably in xml ot json. Rails is very flexible allowing additional functionlity as new controllers are added, or existing controllers are upgraded with new commands. Was that what you were looking for? Kevin Fries On Oct 15, 2010 9:43 AM, "Ed Knapp" wrote: Good morning! You make an excellent point and do not sound negative to me at all. This is a 100% valid concern that we do need to consider as we develop our web front end. Even though our product is only used in vehicles (cars, trucks, ships, etc), the discussion is still important on principle. While it is true that the executive group and marketing are one driving force of making the site modern and flashy, there is a real element of making the user interface more intuitive and logical. We are introducing a large number of new, moderately complex, user functions with this release. We are trying to keep the user on one central page and have them use controls that are evocative of something that all drivers are very familiar with: a car dashboard. There are a few other factors that went into the decision making process that I won't go into to spare everyone additional boredom but this is not really just a case of "Hey! Make this flashy!" We are building smaller interface and lower bandwidth requirements into the model to support a mobile front end as well. Those requirements also could well support a screen reader friendly interface. Thank you very much for your insight. You have certainly given me some things to think about. Have a great day! Ed > Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:37:32 -0700 > From: steve@holmesgrown.com > To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > Subject: Re: looking for recommendations for web development companies > > I appreciate your interest in looking to the community for ideas for > development support. Ho... --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss