Chapter 3

Business and Finance


CONTENTS

Finance

Commission Pricer

by Dr. Robert Lum
Contact Info: robertl@intrepid.com
URL: http://www.intrepid.com/~robert
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: How much will it cost you to sell that stock? This applet knows about many brokers (and gives you their phone numbers).

A simple, useful applet for investors who want to save money.

Figure 3.1 :

Currency Exchange Calculator

by Saw Paw Corporation
Contact Info: sawpaw@sawpaw.con
URL: http://www.superprism.net/doc/EXPRESS/util/currency.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Look up exchange rates. Rates updated daily. Enter amount of any currency and get the result in any other currency. You can also manually type in exchange rate.

This applet features just about every worldwide currency you can think of in an easy-to-use graph. You can also type in the exchange rate yourself if the site information isn't current.

CyberAgent Real Estate Viewing Demo

by Dale Gass
Contact Info: dale@ra.isisnet.com
URL: http://www.mks.com/tools/java/dale/agent/CyberAgent.html
Load Time: Medium Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Interactive real estate viewing demo.

Browse for a house that matches your criteria, view the results, and calculate your mortgage costs all on one page. The market represented here is quite limited (three houses) but the mortgage calculator is a real asset to anyone buying or selling a home.

GeneralNET

by Dean Ansari
Contact Info: info@generalnet.com
URL: http://www.generalnet.com
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Developer of advanced multimedia Web sites.

Applets used on this business's page include an animated logo, a user-controlled tickertape with variable speeds, and a scroll-down menu of links to the other pages on this site.

Health Insurance Optimizer!

by Paul Schulz
Contact Info: 103421.2227@compuserve.com
URL: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/schulzp/hinsoptb.htm
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Use the Health Insurance Optimizer! during annual enrollment for health insurance. It shows the bottom line differences among plans your employer is offering.

Compare all aspects of three health insurance plans at once, including premiums, prescription costs, major medical expenses, and HMO-related costs.

InvestWiz Personal Portfolio Manager

by Victor Chew
Contact Info: vchew@iss.nus.sg
URL: http://draco.iss.nus.sg
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: InvestWiz is a personal portfolio manager written to prove the feasibility of using Java to develop useful network applications. It is a medium-size Java applet.

Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, JavaChart, MktView, Option Pricing Program, Option Valuation Applet, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, WSRNLookup!, and InfoTicker).

JavaChart

by Weihua Xu
Contact Info: weihua@cco.caltech.edu
URL: http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~weihua/JavaChart
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

You can browse daily scores and values over the previous twelve months and put a particular stock's abbreviation in the ticker window to look up the company of your choice. Macintosh users, however, will not be able to use this program-for now, it's Windows 95- and UNIX-friendly only. Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, MktView, Option Pricing Program, Option Valuation Applet, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, WSRNLookup!, and InfoTicker.

Figure 3.2 :

Java Demos

by Mark Mendel
Contact Info: mgm@is.com
URL: http://www.is.com/IntegritySolutions/Demos/JavaDemos/homePage.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This Java applet demonstrates the use of Java to perform client-side validation of interaction with business objects residing on a server.

At this writing, there are three applet demos on this page for business use: a conference room/meeting scheduler, a calendar applet, and a travel-plan arranger. Have a look at the class diagrams for more details.

Javascript Order Form

by CSIRO Australia
Contact Info: Web@csiro.au
URL: http://www.csiro.au/steve/javascript/marketting/order.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Other online ordering and/or shopping resources on the Gamelan directory include JavaScript Order Form, Java Shopping Cart, Product Browser, Running Total, and Shopping Mall.

MktView

by SoftBear Inc.
Contact Info: info@softbear.com
URL: http://www.softbear.com/java/mktview
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: MktView-a freeware applet to graph your favorite stock's price and volume over time (you must supply the data).

Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, JavaChart, Option Pricing Program, Option Valuation Applet, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, WSRNLookup!, and InfoTicker.

Mortgage Calculator

by Karl Jeacle
Contact Info: kj@broadcom.ie
URL: http://www.broadcom.ie/~kj/java/mortgage.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Dynamically calculate your mortgage payments.

The click-and-draggable sliders are not easy to control, but the calculations are immediate, sliding up and down in sync with your mouse. Compare this mortgage calculator to the one available with the CyberAgent Real Estate Viewing demo and with the Canadian Mortgage Calculator.

The Option Pricing Program

by Mark Higgins
Contact Info: mark@astro.queensu.ca
URL: http://astro.queensu.ca/~mark/OPPjava/OPP.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This applet prices American or European call or put options with a continuous (or zero) dividend rate numerically using a binomial tree algorithm. It also allows calculation of implied volatility for an option of any sort.

Another excellent stock market-related applet to calculate various numbers related to share costs and performance. Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, JavaChart, MktView, Option Valuation Applet, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, WSRNLookup!, and InfoTicker.

Option Valuation Applet

by Alain Mercier
Contact Info: falpha@vm1.ulaval.ca
URL: http://www.fsa.ulval.ca/assoc/fdalpha/opt
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: With this applet you can find the theoretical value of a stock option using the Black and Scholes model. Also with all the derivatives provided by this model, you can see what is the influence of the stock price, the strike price, the time to expiration, the standard variation, and the riskless rate on the value of the option. This applet lets you evaluate call as well as put option.

There's also a nice explanation of all the different derivatives used in this applet's calculations. An Excel 4 version is available. Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, JavaChart, MktView, Option Pricing Program, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, WSRNLookup!, and InfoTicker.

Preston Rohner's Home Page

by Preton Rohner/Helix Software Solutions
Contact Info: preston@loop.com
URL: http://www.loop.com/~preston
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Some Java applets playing around with text as part of the standard HTML. Main page uses Java.

The Applet Framework contains an amortization schedule calculator, along with less-businessy scrolling text and color selection applets. Clicking the example in the left-hand frame will call up the whole demo in the right-hand frame.

Robert's Online Derivatives Pricer!

by Dr. Robert Lum
Contact Info: robertl@intrepid.com
URL: http://www.intrepid.com/~robertl
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: An applet to price exotic derivatives that we can only read about in the press: digital options, knock-in options, knock-out options-they are all here.

Not for the inexperienced investor-the results users ask this applet to create are based on many variables and algebra-like equations. On the plus side, calculations are done almost immediately after the spreadsheets are loaded.

Figure 3.3 :

Robert's Online Loan Pricer!

by Dr. Robert Lum
Contact Info: robertl@intrepid.com
URL: http://www.intrepid.com/~robertl
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A simple JavaScript online loan pricer. Given any four of five inputs to the pricer, this will work out the other one.

This applet seems user-friendly-if you enter your numbers in the wrong format, for example, a syntax error box appears to show you what you've done incorrectly. However, it is unclear which Compute button the user should click, and there is absolutely no documentation to help you figure it out. If you're trying to calculate an automotive lease loan, see @Lease; if you want a home mortgage loan, see the Mortgage Calculator and/or Canadian Mortgage Calculator.

SpreadSheet

by JavaSoft
Contact Info: info@javasoft.com
URL: http://www.javasoft.com/applets/applets/SpreadSheet/example1.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: None.

The simplest of spreadsheet applets. And that's all there is to it.

Stock Ticker, Quote Screen, News, and Charts

by Priyesh Shah
Contact Info: ps2@maxwel.ph.kcl.ac.uk
URL: http://maxwel.ph.kcl.ac.uk/~ps2/java
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This is a grid control written in Java being used as a front end to a database. The formatting applied is to reproduce the look and feel of a quote screen. Also the same grid is used to show a stock tickertape also in a formatted manner. There is a financial news applet and a still-developing basic charting applet.

This is an application, not an applet, so you'll have to download the .ZIP file and install the thing to have a look.

StockTrace

by Christian Dreke
Contact Info: dreke@virginia.edu
URL: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~cd4v/graph/StockGraph.html
Load Time: Medium Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: StockTrace will fetch stock price quotes and graph them. The current version simulates the stock quotes. This applet is still being worked on.

Set the ceiling and floor values before entering the ticker symbols. Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, JavaChart, MktView, Option Pricing Program, Option Valuation Applet, WallStreetWeb, WSRNLookup!, and InfoTicker.

Sun's Financial Portfolio

by Jim Graham
Contact Info: Flar@bendenweyr.eng.sun.com
URL: http://java.sun.com/applets/applets/StockDemo
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Stock tickertape, graphs of a few stocks, news flash.

Download the individual class files provided under each related demo. Also read the Explanation page.

TREX

by Nemo Semret
Contact Info: nemo@ctr.columbia.edu
URL: http://www.ctr.columbia.edu/~nemo/java/trex.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: TREX-the resource exchange, is an interactive simulated commodity exchange. You can buy and sell stuff, and compete against some "intelligent objects" in real time, and eventually against other humans.

An original, fascinating game with plenty of helpful stuff from the author including a low-resolution version of the game and a list of corresponding models/platforms, game instructions, rules of play, and more. E-mail him for the source code if you want it (you will).

WallStreetWeb

by BulletProof.com
Contact Info: scottm@bulletproof.com
URL: http://www.bulletproof.com/WallStreetWeb
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This applet displays a whole lot of tracking info, including current prices and a history chart.

This applet provides more information and more choices for accessing that information than JavaChart, but offers information equivalent to that of WSRNLookup!. Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, MktView, Option Pricing Program, Option Valuation Applet, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, and InfoTicker

Figure 3.4 :

Wells Fargo Bank

by Wells Fargo & Co.
Contact Info: Use guestbook link on page
URL: http://wellsfargo.com
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Explore all of Wells Fargo's services, calculate your living expenses for the next six months, or search the entire site by keyword for faster results.

WSRNLookup!

by Chas Sweeting
Contact Info: sweeting@asiapac.net
URL: http://www.wsrn.com/java/WSRNLookup.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A Java interface into WSRN's company and mutual fund database.

Search for information on U.S. stocks and mutual funds first by NYSE symbol, then by individual pages on company profile, SEC filings, stock graphs and charts, and more. Other stock market-related resources on the Gamelan directory include Commission Pricer, InvestWiz Portfolio Manager, JavaChart, MktView, Option Pricing Program, Option Valuation Applet, StockTrace, WallStreetWeb, and InfoTicker.

Figure 3.5 :

Yield Calculator

by Stephen Harrington
Contact Info: sth@bu.edu
URL: http://physics.bu.edu/~sth/yield.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The yield calculator is a service for individual investors, professional money managers, corporate accounting departments, and pension fund managers involved in pricing, performance measurement, or risk management of fixed income securities.

Input your prices and dates, click on Calculate, and this applet will do all the work for you. However, this calculator would not accept abbreviated dates beyond the year 1999 (as in 51502 for May 15, 2002, following the format the author specifies) so it's possible that calculating yields which will mature throughout the next century will not work.

Other Business and Finance Resources

@Lease

by Paul Thompson
Contact Info: syspaul@coa.uky.edu
URL: http://www.coa.uky.edu/syspaul/lease
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: @Lease is designed to educate and aid those who are considering leasing a new automobile. Includes a leasing glossary and an interactive, online lease calculator.

It's a toss-up between which is more useful: the glossary, or the applet. The actual calculator is easy to use, but the glossary explains each dollar or time amount in clear and concise language. Educational and useful! Also check out the Mortgage Calculator and Canadian Mortgage Calculator for comparison.

AppletInVision.html

by Hantong Pang
Contact Info: hpang@dforce.com
URL: http://www.dforce.com/~hpang/AppletInVision.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: None.

A Javacized version of a PC-based bank information and transaction initiating system. Follow the instructions on how to log on as a guest user.

Figure 3.6 :

BulletProof.com

by BulletProof.com
Contact Info: Use feedback form on Web site
URL: http://www.bulletproof.com
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Check out our collection of some of the most impressive applications anywhere. Download JDesignerPro, the first client/server 4GL for the Java language, and create your own client/server front-end to your ODBC databases in minutes.

Check out JDesignerPro and MarketPage (the WallStreetWeb applet is covered on its own) if you're using Windows or UNIX only. JDesignerPro is available for downloading free of charge, but MarketPage is only free for the first month. Contact BulletProof.com for information about monthly fees and other product usage/licensing-type questions.

Canadian Mortgage Calculator

by Avalon Web Design Corp.
Contact Info: Use mailbox on applet page
URL: http://www.avalonWeb.com/
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This mortgage calculator helps you to find out your monthly payment based on the principal, interest rate, and the amortization period. Or you can calculate how long your amortization period will be based on the monthly payment principal and interest rate. The monthly payment is based on interest calculated semi-annually, not in advance.

Not too different from the American way of buying a home, as demonstrated by the Mortgage Calculator. Also see @Lease just for comparison.

Currency Order System

by @Work Technologies
Contact Info: info@worktechs.com
URL: http://www.worktechs.com/ccyorders/ccyorder.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The currency order system is an excellent example of Java being used for a real business application.

Select customer, order desk, and branch. Then watch the tickertape for optimal exchange information and place your order.

First Choice Equity

by Steve Kintner
Contact Info: fchoice@teleport.com
URL: http://www.teleport.com/~fchoice
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Mortgage notebroker using scrolling text to announce special incentives for people wishing to sell contracts.

Looking for tickertape and LED applets for your own page? Check out Custom Ticker Tape, Interactive Ticker Tape, Navigator Ticker, Vertical Graphic Ticker Tape, and/or LED Sign (all in Special Effects: Text).

Home Banking Demo

by Chuck McManis
Contact Info: cmcmanis@netcom.com
URL: http://Web.professionals.com/~cmcmanis/applets/AppletContest/bank.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This applet demonstrates how to build a secure channel in a public Web page. Two applets, communicating on the page, pass encrypted information that only the intended viewer of the Web page can see.

Typing in the correct password will result in seeing "your" current balance plus the date, type, and amount transacted during your last five trips to the bank.

InfoTicker

by Erik Mueller
Contact Info: erik@panix.com
URL: http://www.panix.com/~erik/InfoTicker.cgi
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: A simple personal agent for realtime Internet data extraction: stock market, weather, Usenet classified ad, Web page change, and so on. Runs as a Java applet or as an application.

This applet comes with a FAQ, instructions page, and manual for use. It is also available free to individuals who want to download and run it as an application for personal use, but not for redistribution. Windows 95 users be forewarned about a bug that interferes with the fade in/fade out feature involving new information-the author had no other platform-specific problems to report.

Java Shopping Cart

by A. F. Slater
Contact Info: info@ais.net
URL: http://www.ais.net/ais/aboutais/java/shopcart.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This is a sample Java-based shopping cart application with the ability to purchase basic items.

Nice mouse-controlled shopping cart applet-the clickable buttons on inventory and total list are user-friendly and easy to figure out. Other online ordering and/or shopping resources on the Gamelan directory include JavaScript Order Form, Product Browser, Running Total, and Shopping Mall.

Figure 3.7 :

NetCharts

by Mike MacDonald NetFactory Inc.
Contact Info: mikem@ari.net
URL: http://www.netcharts.com
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: NetCharts is a collection of easy-to-use applets to produce interactive bar charts, pie charts, XY charts, and diagrams. With a well-developed HTML interface or Java API, it can jazz up a home page or be incorporated into larger applications.

Run the demo to get an inkling about the potential these applets hold-anybody with a decent understanding of HTML can utilize these charts on their Web sites with minimal effort. That's why these applets get top marks: They're useful, practical, and universally cool.

NYU Stern School EDGAR Ticker

by Yi-Chang Chen
Contact Info: chen@edgar.stern.nyu.edu
URL: http://allan.stern.nyu.edu/cgi-bin/DayTicker2.pl
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: The EDGAR ticker provides users with search tools for latest EDGAR filings running at user's computer and integrates several search tools for EDGAR filings, within a week for all in the SEC EDGAR archive. To provide users with a friendly user interface, the ticker was designed to be controllable, searchable, and sortable.

You can search the EDGAR archive by latest or weekly filings, by company and form type, by all headers or stock quotes, by exchange ticker, or through SEC tools. The demo page has specific recommendations for Netscape and high-speed connection users, so read all the instructions before you give the demo a try.

Product Browser

by ICON Computing
Contact Info: dsouza@iconcomp.com
URL: http://www.iconcomp.com/shopper
Load Time: Medium Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This applet is a simulation of an online shopping cart system.

The applet manual and some related papers are included if you want more information about the design. Other online ordering and/or shopping resources on the Gamelan directory include JavaScript Order Form, Java Shopping Cart, Running Total, and Shopping Mall.

Running Total

by David Nagy-Farkas
Contact Info: davidnf@u.washington.edu
URL: http://Weber.u.washington.edu/~davidnf/java/pricing.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: An example of a useful business application: an online catalog where the user can select and unselect items from the catalog. Java script keeps track of the total cost, including tax.

A shopping cart applet that computes a preset amount of sales tax along with the total cost of selected merchandise. Other online ordering and/or shopping resources on the Gamelan directory include JavaScript Order Form, Java Shopping Cart, Product Browser, and Shopping Mall.

SafeOrder-the credit card ordering utility

by INside Corp.
Contact Info: SafeOrder@inside.net
URL: http://www.inside.net/SafeOrder
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: A complete credit card ordering system where all the information gets encrypted in the client applet and then either sent via mail (for customers locked out behind a firewall) or via special socket to the server part of the application (also written in Java). Highly customizable and (!) multilingual.

There are three demo links listed on the Gamelan directory site-use the right one for you! Another information safety applet worth checking out is the Home Banking Demo.

Figure 3.8 :

Shopping Mall

by Yuntong Kuo
Contact Info: ykuo@bcn.net
URL: http://www.bcn.net/~ykuo/mall.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: An applet that can handle all aspects of online shopping.

Click a particular store's button on the main menu to access its product listing, choose what you want, and either check out or move on. Other online ordering and/or shopping resources on the Gamelan directory include JavaScript Order Form, Java Shopping Cart, Product Browser, and Running Total.

Figure 3.9 :

Texas Educational Center for Advertising Software

by Dr. John Leckenby
Contact Info: john.leckenby@mail.utexas.edu
URL: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~tecas
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: This is the world's first attempt at an interactive application on the Internet to estimate reach and frequency (the number of people who are exposed to a medium and the number of times they are exposed in a given time period) of media schedules, including the use of the Internet advertising vehicles like HotWired, PathFinder, Netscape, and so forth.

How to find the right page in this site: From the main page, choose the TECAS Software link, then choose Media Planning. The TECAS Media Reach/Frequency Generator is the applet described by the author above, but there are other intriguing applets also listed on this page.

Figure 3.10:

Two Java Applets and JavaScript

by KnowledgeSet Corp.
Contact Info: online@kset.com
URL: http://www.kset.com/cool
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Interactive pension graphing. This applet computes an Acme Corporation employee's pension by using the formula provided by human resources.

Netscape users will have the advantage here; all other browsers may not react well to what's provided at this site. Try reloading the page if the button bar at the top of the main frame does not work properly or ifthe buttons load all smashed together.

Visualize!

by David Krider
Contact Info: visual@Webcom.com
URL: http://www.Webcom.com/visual/visualize/Visualize.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: Visualize! is a comprehensive collection of data visualization tools. Both two- and three-dimensional graphs, charts, and other highly customizable viewers are provided. Visualize! supports a wide variety of user interaction, significantly enhancing any Web page that requires a visual representation of numerical data.

Increase the functionality and presentation power of your online information by using this collection of applets-use independent or linked graphs, charts, and other representations with ease. Get some practice using the demos, read the documentation, then download the source (read about the licensing rules first).

W4 Form Helper

by Joe Einweck
Contact Info: einweck@scottsdale.com
URL: http://www.scottsdale.com/kiosk/w4.html
Load Time: Fast
Source Code Included: No

Author's Description: Adjust your federal income tax withholding to the dollar. Enter in how much tax you want withheld for the year and W4 Form Helper will figure out the Filing Status, Allowances, and Additional W/H per Pay Period you should enter on our new W4 form. Mid-year corrections are supported.

Painless tax preparation, even if you're in the middle of a filing year. Follow the simple instructions and adjust your withholding accordingly.

Web Mutual Fund Order Entry & Lookup

by Marko Gargenta
Contact Info: marko_gargenta@uwaterloo.ca
URL: http://www.undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca/~mgargent/WebMF.html
Load Time: Very Fast
Source Code Included: Yes

Author's Description: This is an example of a mutual fund order entry and lookup application.

Beyond the expected order entry information, this applet features a scrolling list of common mutual funds for users to choose from. Click a particular fund for further details, input the dollar quantity, and buy, sell, or sell all.