JISC TechWatch report on web services technologies

The scope of this report is to provide an overview of Web Services Technologies (WST) with particular relevance to the UK HE and FE sectors. Section 1 provides a general description of WST. Section 2 highlights the issues of relevance to the HE and FE sectors. The main standards and types products available are outlined in Section 3. Future developments of relevance to HE and FE are then considered in Section 4. Finally an assessment of likely benefits, costs, risks involved and timelines for implementation of WST within the sector is provided in Section 5. A Glossary and Reference section are provided and appendices offer useful points for further information.