Invisible Upgrades

New features, continuously. No one notices.

Sirona Workspace ships new capabilities continuously — viewer improvements, reporting enhancements, AI upgrades — without a single restart dialog or version migration. The Progressive Web App loads the latest version automatically on every open. Version management becomes a non-issue when there is no version.

See Sirona in Action

How Sirona is Different

PWA Architecture: Native feel, zero installation

Sirona Workspace is a Progressive Web App that installs as a desktop application with its own icon and taskbar presence. From the user's perspective, it's indistinguishable from a native app—no browser tabs, no address bar, offline-capable. But under the hood, it's entirely browser-based: one-click deployment via Chrome enterprise policies (WebAppInstallForceList), one-click updates across every workstation via Active Directory or PDQ. Legacy approaches require dedicated workstations, manual installs, version lock-in, and downtime windows. Sirona's PWA + network-first caching strategy means the latest version loads automatically—zero user interaction required.

The Architecture Behind Invisible Upgrades

Continuous, silent upgrades aren't accidental. They require specific architectural choices at every layer — from how the app is delivered to how assets refresh.

Progressive Web App Deployment

Installs like a native app via Chrome enterprise policy (WebAppInstallForceList) or manual one-click install. Appears as a desktop application with its own icon, taskbar, and full-screen mode.

Network-First Caching Strategy

Always checks for fresh assets on network load. Latest version available immediately without user intervention or restart dialogs.

WebGL Diagnostic Rendering

VTK.js library with WebGL hardware acceleration delivers diagnostic-quality 2D/3D DICOM rendering entirely in the browser—no desktop app required.

PixelWSS Streaming Layer

WebSocket-based pixel streaming delivers prioritized frames on-demand. Adaptive bitrate ensures diagnostic quality on any network—fiber to cellular.

Enterprise Deployment (AD/PDQ)

Automated deployment via Active Directory or PDQ Deploy. One policy sets the URL; every device auto-installs and auto-updates. No imaging IT involvement required.

CloudFront CDN + S3 Distribution

Global content delivery ensures diagnostic-quality assets load instantly from any geographic location.

Invisible Upgrades in Practice

PWA Architecture

Installs as a desktop app. Updates invisibly.

Users click once, the app installs with a desktop icon, and it feels exactly like a native imaging application. Behind the scenes, every load checks for fresh assets. New versions deploy without restart prompts or version dialogs.

One-click install via WebAppInstallForceList or manual setup

Own icon, taskbar presence, full-screen mode

Network-first caching detects updates automatically

No restart dialogs, no 'version 2.4 is required' messages

Continuous Deployment

New features ship continuously, silently.

Features flow through GitHub Flow, Harness.io feature flags, and a/b testing gates. Radiologists never know a deployment happened. Version management becomes irrelevant when users always run the latest code.

GitHub Flow: main branch is production-ready

Harness.io: feature flags enable safe rollouts and instant rollbacks

Blue-green deployments roll out safely behind CloudFront

Continuous cadence: viewer and reporting improvements ship constantly

Diagnostic Quality

Browser rendering matches dedicated hardware.

VTK.js with WebGL hardware acceleration delivers the same diagnostic performance as expensive imaging workstations. PixelWSS streaming ensures responsive frame delivery on any network. No compromise between zero-footprint and image quality.

VTK.js: full DICOM 2D/3D rendering in WebGL

PixelWSS: WebSocket-based on-demand frame streaming

CDN delivery: CloudFront keeps assets loading fast worldwide

Adaptive bitrate: diagnostic quality on fiber, broadband, cellular, or Starlink

Browser-only

zero-footprint setup with no client software to install

0

workstations requiring dedicated imaging software or maintenance

1

line of deployment code: a Chrome enterprise policy

Lower

imaging-IT overhead — workstation management eliminated

Upgrades you never see

How Invisible Upgrades Make Sirona More Responsive

“The experience of working with Sirona has been phenomenal. You guys are easily the most responsive team that I've worked with in regards to IT. When I say there's an issue, you guys are on it right away. That has been just amazing. Every other place should look at Sirona as an example.”

Dr. Casey Cotton

ERA

Understanding RadOS: How Sirona is Built Different

See all customer stories

FAQs

What exactly is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?

A PWA is a web application that installs as a desktop app (icon on the desktop or taskbar) but runs entirely in the browser. Sirona Workspace installs once, feels like a native application with its own window and taskbar presence, but gets updated automatically from the server. You deploy once; updates happen silently.

How do updates happen without disruption?

Sirona uses network-first caching: every time the app loads, it checks the server for new assets. If newer assets exist, they're cached for the next app restart. Users don't experience a 'restart required' dialog—they simply work, and the next time they load the app, they get the latest version. Features are rolled out safely using Harness.io feature flags, with instant rollback capability if issues arise.

Does invisible upgrading mean compromised image quality?

No. Sirona's diagnostic viewer uses VTK.js with WebGL hardware acceleration—full DICOM 2D/3D rendering in the browser at diagnostic quality. PixelWSS streaming delivers prioritized frames on-demand, with adaptive bitrate handling everything from fiber to cellular. You get the same diagnostic performance as dedicated imaging workstations, just delivered entirely through your browser.

How do we deploy this across our entire enterprise?

Single deployment option: Chrome enterprise policy (WebAppInstallForceList) to push the app URL to all managed devices. Active Directory or PDQ Deploy can automate the setup. Once deployed, every workstation receives updates automatically—no IT involvement required after the initial policy push.

What if a radiologist wants to work from home or on their personal device?

They visit the Sirona login page in any modern Chrome browser, click 'Install,' and the app appears on their home screen or desktop. It works on their laptop, iPad, or any device with Chrome. No VPN, no special software, no infrastructure setup.

Does the browser need to be running for the app to work?

The app runs in the browser, but it feels like a native application—it has its own window, window controls, and taskbar presence. The browser engine is there, but radiologists interact with the app window, not a browser tab. If they close the window, the app is closed; opening the app again launches it fresh from the latest cached assets.