How to replace Java (signed) applets?

Sometimes you need to use hardware or other resources of local computer from your web application forms but which you cannot access with JavaScript. In such case Java programmer would typically develop signed Java applets to be able to boldly go where no JavaScript has gone before. But, web browsers and new JREs are making things worse every day for Java signed applets causing headaches to Java programmers and even more to end users who struggle with every new JRE update. In this session author will demonstrate techniques how to get beyond security and functional limits of web browsers without Java applets and how to reuse old Java code. You will also see some ideas what users wanted to have in web applications when programmer told them they can have "all they want".