Comments on: The Fonz uses XmlHttpRequest and AJAX to spy on you. http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/ Questions, music, noise, and computer nerditry. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:28:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: The fonzs momma http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-118 Mon, 18 Apr 2005 10:56:47 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-118 i dont know if its evil. seems like a good idea to me. cool game too. i dont know if its evil. seems like a good idea to me. cool game too.

]]> by: Andrew E. http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-119 Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:04:55 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-119 I'm not really sure that this is that big an issue - or, even if it is, that your proof of concept demonstrates it. I mean, in the text of your blog entry, you present a more compelling argument than the game itself. The idea that the server can transparently communicate exactly what the user is doing before she/he clicks any kind of link is interesting - I can know if the user mouses over a web banner, and but doesn't click, etc... or (in theory) how long the user scrolls down a page, or something - but the game doesn't deal with that. You're still submitting data to the server, every time you run a move. This would be no different than writing this game in the regular HTML Form -&gt; Server -&gt; response page - it's just nicer, because it's XMLHttpRequest. And if you want to know about sensitive information being stored transparently in an Ajax application, <a href="http://www.electricstate.com/ipodbartender/" rel="nofollow">my iPod bartender app</a> stores temporary files containing drink recipes, named however the user specifies (although it is completely anonymous.) You should see what some of these people name their drink collections! :-) The game is cool, however. I hit the jukebox. I’m not really sure that this is that big an issue - or, even if it is, that your proof of concept demonstrates it. I mean, in the text of your blog entry, you present a more compelling argument than the game itself. The idea that the server can transparently communicate exactly what the user is doing before she/he clicks any kind of link is interesting - I can know if the user mouses over a web banner, and but doesn’t click, etc… or (in theory) how long the user scrolls down a page, or something - but the game doesn’t deal with that. You’re still submitting data to the server, every time you run a move. This would be no different than writing this game in the regular HTML Form -> Server -> response page - it’s just nicer, because it’s XMLHttpRequest.

And if you want to know about sensitive information being stored transparently in an Ajax application, my iPod bartender app stores temporary files containing drink recipes, named however the user specifies (although it is completely anonymous.) You should see what some of these people name their drink collections! :-)

The game is cool, however. I hit the jukebox.

]]> by: CDFritz http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-120 Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:31:41 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-120 I don't know about XmlHttpRequest being evil, but I know what is: a combination that starts with 0 and doesn't work, leaving someone going around in circles for a long time X( Other than the run-around, I much enjoyed a walk around the set of one of my favorite TV shows =) Make me want to write one of these now, but I lack the patience... --CDFritz I don’t know about XmlHttpRequest being evil, but I know what is: a combination that starts with 0 and doesn’t work, leaving someone going around in circles for a long time X( Other than the run-around, I much enjoyed a walk around the set of one of my favorite TV shows =) Make me want to write one of these now, but I lack the patience…

–CDFritz

]]> by: Mr. Speaker http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-121 Mon, 18 Apr 2005 13:37:57 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-121 CDFritz - Ill check that out... I saw your comments in your moves - nice lateral thinking there :) Andrew E - Yep, I fully agree (though, of course, this game is entirely client-side javascript, so you would not assume your data was being posted) I was going to write a more relevant proof-of-concept, but it was really really boring :) Also, I saw your iPod Bartender application a while ago and told all the iPodders in the office about it. I, unfortunately, am still iPoddless. CDFritz - Ill check that out… I saw your comments in your moves - nice lateral thinking there :)

Andrew E - Yep, I fully agree (though, of course, this game is entirely client-side javascript, so you would not assume your data was being posted) I was going to write a more relevant proof-of-concept, but it was really really boring :)

Also, I saw your iPod Bartender application a while ago and told all the iPodders in the office about it. I, unfortunately, am still iPoddless.

]]> by: Twills http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-122 Mon, 18 Apr 2005 14:00:19 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-122 Ill never use the web again! They are watching me! Everyone watching me! Ill never use the web again! They are watching me! Everyone watching me!

]]> by: Shane http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-123 Tue, 19 Apr 2005 09:43:01 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-123 I have put together a resource site called <a href="http://www.ajaxmatters.com" rel="nofollow">AJAX Matters</a>. I look forward to your suggestions. I have put together a resource site called AJAX Matters. I look forward to your suggestions.

]]> by: sanjuro http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-133 Sun, 24 Apr 2005 04:29:39 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-133 That was fun to play (reminded me of Shadowgate) and an impressive demonstration of Ajax use... congratulations ! That was fun to play (reminded me of Shadowgate) and an impressive demonstration of Ajax use… congratulations !

]]> by: scott http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-201 Thu, 28 Apr 2005 11:22:03 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-201 was this done using ruby rails? or which ajax technology? is the source for this available? it'd be great to learn from it! was this done using ruby rails? or which ajax technology? is the source for this available? it’d be great to learn from it!

]]> by: Mr. Speaker http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-267 Sun, 01 May 2005 13:51:40 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-267 Hey scott, It just uses a very simple xmlhttprequest send to send data server. Its all in javascript, so check out the code for the game, and the remote scripting stuff in the <a href="http://www.mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/FonzsTreasure/fonzsTreasure.js" rel="nofollow">javascript include</a>. The send stuff is right at the bottom of the file. The wierd OnReadyStateChange function "readyChange" is to do with the "live help" stuff i implemented. (Check out the next blog entry <a href="http://www.mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/25/xmlhttprequest/" rel="nofollow">here</a>) Hey scott, It just uses a very simple xmlhttprequest send to send data server. Its all in javascript, so check out the code for the game, and the remote scripting stuff in the javascript include.

The send stuff is right at the bottom of the file. The wierd OnReadyStateChange function “readyChange” is to do with the “live help” stuff i implemented. (Check out the next blog entry here)

]]> by: Dave http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-506 Wed, 08 Jun 2005 06:11:36 +1000 http://mrspeaker.webeisteddfod.com/2005/04/17/the-fonz-and-ajax/#comment-506 Bug in game --- don't want to give up too much, but let's say when the random number generator chooses a number like 080, the parser can't understand it because it thinks it's octal. Ran me crazy until I d/l the sourcecode and saw it : maybe the 1st number of the RNGenerator should just be 1-9 ? Bug in game — don’t want to give up
too much, but let’s say when the random
number generator chooses a number like 080,
the parser can’t understand it because it
thinks it’s octal.

Ran me crazy until I d/l the sourcecode and saw it : maybe
the 1st number of the RNGenerator should just be 1-9 ?

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