In this paper we will concentrate on the proposal preparation process, i.e., the Phase I and Phase II process from the users perspective. Note that we will not be differentiating between the Phase I and Phase II, since many of the software tools can be used in both phases. Also, the increase in competition for observing time implies that users want to explore their parameter space to justify their scientific objectives properly. Further, with the rise in service mode observing information must be passed precisely and correctly from the user to the observatory staff. It is an understatement to say that there has been an explosion of new technologies in the past decade.
Major advances continue to occur in software, hardware, and telecommunications.
The Internet revolution has fostered the development of distributed tools and languages. Java, while still maturing and developing, shows promise at succeeding in becoming a truly platform independent language. On the hardware side, the exponential growth in computing speed, memory, and storage shows no sign of slowing. What was impossible on personal machines just a few years ago is now virtually instantaneous. And with the growth in computing power comes new possibilities in the capabilities of visual and interactive tools and interfaces.