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click away). <br/>
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click away). <br/>
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It is clear that computer technology allows (and forces) us to shift the
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It is clear that computer technology allows (and forces) us to shift the
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focus of our teaching more towards using mathematics to solve real-life
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focus of our teaching more towards using mathematics to solve real-life
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problems, and towards a better understanding of fundamental mathematical
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problems, and towards a better understanding of fundamental mathematical
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concepts, away from techniques and skills of mathematical computations.
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concepts, away from techniques and skills of mathematical computations.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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On the other hand, new computer technology provides new means for our
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On the other hand, new computer technology provides new means for our
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educational system. A computer software can solve complicated mathematical
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educational system. A computer software can solve complicated mathematical
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problems very quickly, using methods and algorithms which are transparent to
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problems very quickly, using methods and algorithms which are transparent to
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the user who doesn't want or doesn't has to know about them. The
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the user who doesn't want or doesn't has to know about them. The
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interaction between numbers and forms, very hard to implement under
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interaction between numbers and forms, very hard to implement under
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conventional methods, is very easily done on a computer screen. And a
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conventional methods, is very easily done on a computer screen. And a
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well-designed computer program can analyse or correct errors made by a
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well-designed computer program can analyse or correct errors made by a
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student, and give him appropriate helps in real time.
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student, and give him appropriate helps in real time.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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Obviously, adapting our mathematical education to the computer age requires
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Obviously, adapting our mathematical education to the computer age requires
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that computing technology be widely used in our teaching. This is still far
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that computing technology be widely used in our teaching. This is still far
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from being today's reality, and the reasons are multiple. There is few, if not
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from being today's reality, and the reasons are multiple. There is few, if not
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no, software dedicated to higher level mathematical education (because
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no, software dedicated to higher level mathematical education (because
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developping such a software is not cost effective?). The popular softwares
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developping such a software is not cost effective?). The popular softwares
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the package will still be useful when he finishes the study (the package may
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the package will still be useful when he finishes the study (the package may
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evolve or even disappear, the company he will work in may adopt another
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evolve or even disappear, the company he will work in may adopt another
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system, etc). Not to mention the logistical difficulty for an educational
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system, etc). Not to mention the logistical difficulty for an educational
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institution to install and maintain a large number of copies of softwares
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institution to install and maintain a large number of copies of softwares
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which change their versions often rapidly.
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which change their versions often rapidly.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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In the opinion of the author, it is internet which will give the first real
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In the opinion of the author, it is internet which will give the first real
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solution to the above difficulties. Internet is a one-server, many-users
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solution to the above difficulties. Internet is a one-server, many-users
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system, which allows one installation to serve a large number of users. The
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system, which allows one installation to serve a large number of users. The
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html user interface is fool-proof and intuitive, and the user doesn't need
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html user interface is fool-proof and intuitive, and the user doesn't need
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to learn complicated manipulations in order to work on it. At the same time,
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to learn complicated manipulations in order to work on it. At the same time,
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to master and has become very popular nowadays.
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to master and has become very popular nowadays.
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It is also easy to design student-supervisor interactions
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It is also easy to design student-supervisor interactions
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in various ways. Finally, the free-service and open-contribution nature of
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in various ways. Finally, the free-service and open-contribution nature of
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internet makes it possible to combine the knowledge and experience of the whole
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internet makes it possible to combine the knowledge and experience of the whole
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educational community, and redistribute them to the whole community.
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educational community, and redistribute them to the whole community.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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The basic problem for an immediate and direct use of http-html protocol into
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The basic problem for an immediate and direct use of http-html protocol into
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mathematical education is the lack of some capabilities necessary for an
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mathematical education is the lack of some capabilities necessary for an
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educational use. Namely, the lack of support for building interactive and
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educational use. Namely, the lack of support for building interactive and
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intelligent applications. Another problem is that the (current) html
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intelligent applications. Another problem is that the (current) html
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language has no support for mathematical expression.
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language has no support for mathematical expression.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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Existing experiences on the web are mostly based on java/javascript
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Existing experiences on the web are mostly based on java/javascript
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interactivity. Due to the difficulty of java/javascript development for
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interactivity. Due to the difficulty of java/javascript development for
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mathematics, these applications usually suffer from lack of power and of
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mathematics, these applications usually suffer from lack of power and of
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interaction between applications. Please refer to the section
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interaction between applications. Please refer to the section
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$(ref1)compare$(ref2)compare">$title_compare</a>
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$(ref1)compare$(ref2)compare">$title_compare</a>
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for more analyses about java/javascript.
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for more analyses about java/javascript.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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There are also some web sites where dedicated mathematical softwares are
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There are also some web sites where dedicated mathematical softwares are
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used as backend engine for web-based computational tools. While this
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used as backend engine for web-based computational tools. While this
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approach is close to the idea behind wims, the author did not find a
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approach is close to the idea behind wims, the author did not find a
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systematic approach in this direction.
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systematic approach in this direction.
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<p>
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</p><p>
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Wims is designed to provide a systematic and evolutive way to add
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Wims is designed to provide a systematic and evolutive way to add
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server-based interactivity to the html-javascript-java triplet. We have
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server-based interactivity to the html-javascript-java triplet. We have
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adopted the concept of an open system, and special care has been taken
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adopted the concept of an open system, and special care has been taken
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to allow non-computer-specialists to make contributions to the system: a
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to allow non-computer-specialists to make contributions to the system: a
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modular design with independent modules, a language with simple structure
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modular design with independent modules, a language with simple structure
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and close-to-natural syntax, and the concept of online development. Also, a
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and close-to-natural syntax, and the concept of online development. Also, a
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tentative solution for including mathematical expressions in the html pages
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tentative solution for including mathematical expressions in the html pages
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is provided.
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is provided.
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</p>