The term AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) was coined by Jesse James Garrett of Adaptive Path, Inc. in February 2005 to describe a range of technologies for developing high-performance, Web-based applications. AJAX applications include Google Maps, Yahoo's FlickR and many more. AJAX separates the user interaction portion of an application from its server interaction, enabling both to proceed asynchronously in parallel. This enables AJAX Web-based applications to perform at speeds approaching those of desktop applications reducing or even eliminating the performance advantage that desktop applications have traditionally had over Web-based applications. This has huge ramifications for the desktop applications industry—the applications platform of choice is starting to shift from the desktop to the Web. Many people believe that the Web—especially in the context of abundant open source software, inexpensive computers and exploding Internet bandwidth—will be the great equalizer, creating the next major growth phase for Internet companies. Companies developing AJAX-based applications are already attracting significant venture capitalist interest. Check out the Deitel AJAX Resource Center, which includes articles, blogs, development tools, code examples, podcasts, recommended publications, resources and references.