We
describe bioLegato: a generic,
programmable graphic user interface that enables the end user to
visualize and work with almost any type of data in an object-oriented
way. Object-oriented
programming has been one of the most fundamental breakthroughs in
computer languages and programming practices. Simply
stated: everything is an object; objects have data and methods; methods
return objects. Up to now, the end user has not directly benefited from
the power inherent in objects. However, recent developments have
redefined the way data is structured on the web, and how objects
interact with each
other through web services, leading to an Object-Oriented World View
(OOWV). BioLegato gives the end user an OOWV, both of their own data,
and data and methods on the Web. Although current development is
targeted at genomics data, the generic design of bioLegato lends
itself for use with almost any kind of data.
