labs.mozilla.com/2007/10/prism - Web to Desktop

Prism is a new Mozilla project whose aim is to provide a seamless bridge between desktop and web applications, so that no noticeable divide appears. Base on Webrunner, Prism allows users to take your usual web-based apps like Gmail, Google Reader, and Facebook, and run them as if they were desktop applications. Each app is given a separate and dedicated browser window. Prism can run on Linux, Mac, and Windows. Prism doesn't just give desktop capabilities to web apps, it also enhances them, adding offline data storage and access to 3D graphics hardware. Currently there's an early prototype download for Windows available, however the end goal is to incorporate Prism directly into your browser so that no downloads are necessary.

"Mozilla Labs is launching a series of experiments to bridge the divide in the user experience between web applications and desktop apps and to explore new usability models as the line between traditional desktop and new web applications continues to blur.
Unlike Adobe AIR and Microsoft Silverlight, we're not building a proprietary platform to replace the web. We think the web is a powerful and open platform for this sort of innovation, so our goal is to identify and facilitate the development of enhancements that bring the advantages of desktop apps to the web platform.

The first of these experiments is based on Webrunner, which we've moved into the Mozilla Labs code repository and renamed to Prism."

This is an interesting project which looks very promising. It will make the gap between online and offline apps barely noticeable. Users will be better able to navigate between the two arenas. It could also be interesting run on a mobile device.

Will users get the point of Prism? Will they see it as merely another browser window with some extra buttons, or will it be truly useful? Is this meant to replace the web?