Pablo Picasso was on to something when he declared that computers are useless "because they can only give you answers." Conferences, on the other hand, can also give you questions.

Take AJAXWorld Conference & Expo 2007 West, for example, the September event at which some of you may even be reading this editorial in between sessions.

Never in the field of AJAX endeavors have so many questions been asked and answered, including: How can we best get "beyond the browser"? How can we free AJAX from the limitations of the Web's request/response architecture? Can RIAs really deliver a desktop-like user experience? How far are we along with Mobile AJAX? What's the current state of JSON? What's happening that's causing mashups to flourish? What real-world projects best demonstrate the potential of Web 2.0? If Web 2.0-style mashups are now so popular, what are the best tools that support them at the enterprise level? What factors should enterprises consider in choosing an AJAX solution provider? Can AJAX be used with Adobe AIR? What about AJAX and JSF? What about Silverlight? What is HTTP Push? How do you do cross-browser testing? How can you architect a solution to achieve both corporate and user goals?

No wonder delegates are flying from as far away as Korea and Japan to attend the show!

AJAXWorld 2007 West contradistinguishes itself from all previous AJAXWorlds (this is now the fourth successive sellout) not only by its size - 10 simultaneous tracks over three days, preceded by a day of developer bootcamps - but also by its range of topics and the sheer depth in which those topics are being examined. Some examples: Comet, a technique to enable server-push communications using AJAX, lies at the heart of not just one session but four; while three sessions are devoted to various aspects of the Google Web Toolkit, and a further three to Microsoft's Silverlight.

Enterprise Mashups this time round were deemed important enough to warrant not just three or even four sessions but an entire track; and the same is true of iPhone AJAX applications, our newest (and perhaps hottest) track, featuring fantastic sessions such as Dojo Toolkit co-creator Dylan Schiemann on how developers can leverage Dojo for this latest innovation from Cupertino.

You name it, AJAXWorld Conference & Expo 2007 West in Santa Clara this month is covering it: from ASP.NET AJAX, Reverse AJAX, and Eclipse JavaScript to testing your AJAX-powered Ruby on Rails application from both the client and server sides.

For all the great things that AJAX adds to the Web developer's toolbox, it can also add layers of complexity to a Web development stack that is already bursting at the seams. For the developer, the event aims at assisting you with choosing an AJAX framework that aligns its capabilities with your needs. For the IT manager, it should help you with successfully seeing how AJAX and RIA applies to your business today, and understanding AJAX adoption in key business segments so as to develop a rich-Web strategy that works for your market.

AJAX is no longer taxiing down the runway. Nor has it merely taken off. AJAX has gone into orbit. Hope you'll be joining us in Santa Clara for the continuing RIA rocket ride!