ChetOS.net

There is a new web application technology called Ajax (short for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML).  This technology is not a language, framework, or anything like that... it is a method of communicating with a web browser without refreshing the page.  Basically you have a Javascript "listener" which receives information from a webserver (that data is transferred in XML).  When the listener receives the data it dynamically changes stuff (form variables, images, calculated fields, pretty much anything).

This is considered the Next Big Thing.

The funny part is that I have been using this for, literally, years.  I built a Java-less Instant Messenger and Chat program that runs natively in the web browser, does not refresh, and uses async calls to the webserver via Javascript and XML (it is mentioned on my Projects page but I don't think the link works).  Also, the current Runonideas.com website uses this method to dynamically verify the validity of a stock symbol.

Also, if memory serves me I got the idea from the ASP.net methodology.  I don't know *how* they did it, but if you choose an item from a drop down list the page sends the information to the server and the page is reloaded with another drop down list pre-polulated with new values (this is just an example, it is like when you choose a state from a list and the city list is populated with cities in that state)... however, now that I think about it, they used the old ASP postback technique but made it transparent for the developer and web user.

Either way, Ajax is another technology that I invented :-) but is just now catching on (like wildfire).