Recently, we were asked to participate in a study about the Global Application Performance Monitoring (APM) Software Industry, and we responded with some basic information about eValid and its use in monitoring.
The eValid product -- a browser based automated testing solution -- was introduced to the community in 2000-2001.
We believe it was "the first ever" product to do what it does (basic web application testing) in the way that it does it.
Many, many of our customers two decades ago used sequential automated playbacks (which really are just automated re-tests) from a programmable script to do comparative checking of web site performance.
For example, see this page:
Example eValid Monitoring
Not to thump the chest too much, but we believe eValid is the "father" of most of the contemporary solutions, in particular those which rely on the WebDriver interface.
Much of what WebDriver does was already incorporated in early versions of eValid, which technology is protected by a portfolio of US Patents, see:
eValid IP/Business Opportunity
Software Research's contributions to the software quality and testing community go back a long way. See the SR home website at:
Software Research Corporate Overview