Greater London Authority runs app tests to improve user experience

The Greater London Authority is using network emulation software to ensure the resilience of its web and networked applications across the organisation.

The GLA has deployed iTrinegy's INE for Windows system to run performance tests on applications so that users receive a good experience. The tests cover web apps, client/server systems, Citrix-delivered apps and voice over IP.

Brian Arnold, a systems integration engineer at the GLA, said: "These applications need to work in a variety of different network environments, including over the WAN, over Wi-Fi and through 3G mobile networks. To understand the impact on our end users we made the decision that we needed to test our applications and systems in controlled and repeatable replications of these environments."

The GLA's iTrinegy system works on Windows XP

The GLA's iTrinegy system works on Windows XP, Vista, 7 or Windows Server platforms and allows some or all of the applications running on a Windows system to "experience" realistic external network conditions when being accessed, like bandwidth, loss, latency and jitter.

Fujitsu has developed a system that allows standard mobile phone cameras to take 3D pictures and video. It uses a small mirrored attachment at the same time with an image server, and is on trial in Japan through June.