This document discusses trends in Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) and cloud computing. It begins with definitions of key concepts like RIA, cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), and discusses the combination of RIAs and cloud computing as the future of software. The document then covers RIA design patterns and best practices, including common interaction and presentation patterns. It concludes with reiterating that the combination of asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) with RIA patterns enables new just-in-time delivery of information to keep users engaged.