Network Computing Architecture, created by Oracle, is a comprehensive, open, network-based architecture that provides extensibility for distributed environments. The Web and Internet are rapidly evolving to become the infrastructure for the global economy, both on the public Internet and on the vast numbers of corporate Intranets. Within this relatively new domain, many technologies are competing for providing the infrastructure for distributing large-scale applications. Some of these technologies come from standards activities, some from academia, and some from individual vendors. What's more, the devices in your home will eventually give you two-way access to a worldwide network, the Information Superhighway .
Fat clients are also relatively expensive, whereas thin clients are relatively inexpensive.
Object technology is widely seen as the next-generation approach for application development, providing the mechanism for more efficient programming and rapid responses to business needs and opportunities. Support for key open and de facto standards guarantees that developers can use their client of choice, a language that suits the application, and an appropriate programming model for rapid deployment. JAVA provides extensibility, portability, and a de facto programming language throughout the architecture. The NC provides inexpensive Internet access and applications for a wide range of users in businesses, educational institutions, consumers and developing countries. The NC builds on the Internet, the World Wide Web, and corporate Intranets.