Robust Computer Systems Permitting Autonomously Switching Between Alternative/Redundant Components

A computer system having first, second, third and alternate computers for generating a graphical user interface GUI on the first computer screen corresponding to a presentation generated with respect to the second computer screen irrespective of the operating system differences between the respective first, second and third computers, includes a first device for providing a hypertext markup language HTML document including an applet tag corresponding to a Universal Client device to the first computer a second device for initializing and executing the Universal Client device using a JAVATM virtual machine associated with the first computer a third device for parsing and interpreting a script associated with the Universal Client device to thereby cause the Universal Client device to display the GUI a fourth device disposed in the second computer for generating a heartbeat signal a fifth device disposed in the first computer for receiving the heartbeat signals a sixth device for parsing and interpreting the script associated with the Universal Client device to thereby cause the Universal Client device to establish a predetermined connection between the first and the second computers a seventh device for parsing and interpreting the script associated with the Universal Client device to thereby cause the Universal Client device to establish a predetermined connection between the first and the alternate computers and an eighth device disposed in one of the second and third computers for generating a string causing changes in the GUI displayed by the Universal Client device on the first computer.