portalBy Soheila Ghane

outline

1.History1.History

2.Introduction to issues2.Introduction to issues

3.Defining “Portal” 3.Defining “Portal”

4.What can be expected from a portal?4.What can be expected from a portal?

5.What can not be expected from a portal?5.What can not be expected from a portal?

6.6.KindsKinds of portal of portal

7.Portal softwares7.Portal softwares

8.ACFamily Network8.ACFamily Network

History

Portals really started out with ISP's, the Internet Service Portals really started out with ISP's, the Internet Service providers like AOL and Prodigy and that bunch of folks who had providers like AOL and Prodigy and that bunch of folks who had to give you some kind of thing beyond what you could find to give you some kind of thing beyond what you could find yourself on the Web. And they were sort of the early portals. yourself on the Web. And they were sort of the early portals.

The search engines like Yahoo and Alta Vista and Excite, The search engines like Yahoo and Alta Vista and Excite, whatever, when they discovered people really weren't kind of whatever, when they discovered people really weren't kind of using them exclusively, they wanted to get something like frequent using them exclusively, they wanted to get something like frequent flyer loyalty to them. flyer loyalty to them.

So what they did is they became big horizontal malls for So what they did is they became big horizontal malls for information on the Web and in fact, those kind of portals are information on the Web and in fact, those kind of portals are

often calledoften called horizontal portalshorizontal portals or or mega-portalsmega-portals..

Introduction to issues

"We will do nothing short of transforming our cars and "We will do nothing short of transforming our cars and trucks into a portal for the Internet."trucks into a portal for the Internet."

The idea of a homepage was that a company, person or university had a The idea of a homepage was that a company, person or university had a

presence on the Web that had the look and feel of its home.presence on the Web that had the look and feel of its home. With a Web portal, you are escorted to a door, the portal of a house, by a With a Web portal, you are escorted to a door, the portal of a house, by a

real estate agent who often has spent hours learning about you.real estate agent who often has spent hours learning about you.

portal isportal is user-centricuser-centric, , while a homepage iswhile a homepage is owner-centricowner-centric.. A homepage does not a portal make.A homepage does not a portal make.

Defining “Portal”

Portal is a term, generally synonymous with Portal is a term, generally synonymous with gatewaygateway, for a World , for a World Wide Web site that is or proposes to be a major starting site for users Wide Web site that is or proposes to be a major starting site for users when they get connected to the Web or that users tend to visit as an when they get connected to the Web or that users tend to visit as an

anchor site.anchor site. It as a hub from which users can locate all the Web content that they It as a hub from which users can locate all the Web content that they

commonly need. commonly need. Portal is a web system that brings the vast information and Portal is a web system that brings the vast information and

service resources available from many sources to many users in service resources available from many sources to many users in an effective manner.an effective manner.

Cont.

Portal is a web system that provides the functions and features to Portal is a web system that provides the functions and features to authenticate and identify the users and provide them with an easy, authenticate and identify the users and provide them with an easy, personalized and user-customizable web-interface for facilitating personalized and user-customizable web-interface for facilitating access to information and services that are of primary relevance and access to information and services that are of primary relevance and interests to the users. interests to the users.

What can be expected from a portal?

provides a single sign-on to a variety of catalog and directories of provides a single sign-on to a variety of catalog and directories of information and services related to a specific topic or organization information and services related to a specific topic or organization along with a “personal start page”.along with a “personal start page”.

provides materials free of charge for everyoneprovides materials free of charge for everyone

wants that the user gets services /information as easy as possible wants that the user gets services /information as easy as possible

(access and software)(access and software)

portal should be seen as a fruitful complement to other projects / portal should be seen as a fruitful complement to other projects / networks / websitesnetworks / websites

portal should a place where you can do things, If you have portal should a place where you can do things, If you have applications there. it means you can do things like update data. applications there. it means you can do things like update data.

What can not be expected from a portal?

It's not everything they're ever going to use, but the stuff that they It's not everything they're ever going to use, but the stuff that they commonly need.commonly need.

Portal will not provide information or services directlyPortal will not provide information or services directly , other than , other than explanations to guide people to agency web sites .explanations to guide people to agency web sites .

Materials that content all project results in detailsMaterials that content all project results in details

Kinds of portal Portals are not a ‘one size fits’ all solution. Although the term portal is Portals are not a ‘one size fits’ all solution. Although the term portal is

often treated as synonymous with enterprise information portals there are often treated as synonymous with enterprise information portals there are actually many, different types of portals; each one tailored to meet a actually many, different types of portals; each one tailored to meet a

specific business need.specific business need.

There is two basic kinds of portal:There is two basic kinds of portal:

Vertical portal (Vortal)Vertical portal (Vortal) Portals that focus on specific services and subjects.Portals that focus on specific services and subjects.

Do customization based on you authenticating into them Do customization based on you authenticating into them -- them understanding your roles -- them understanding your roles

You can personalize the thing.You can personalize the thing. Example : university of Michigan()Example : university of Michigan()

Cont.

Horizonal portal (Hortal)Horizonal portal (Hortal) they're trying to give you everything you could imagine a they're trying to give you everything you could imagine a

person could want on the Web.person could want on the Web. A horizontal portal can't have customization because it A horizontal portal can't have customization because it

doesn't know who you aredoesn't know who you are

everybody comes in, sees the same thing, but they can everybody comes in, sees the same thing, but they can

personalize it to some degreepersonalize it to some degree some people call themsome people call them HEPHEP''ss forfor Horizontal Enterprise Horizontal Enterprise

PortalsPortals..

Example : Yahoo.com ,Alta Vista.com , Excite.comExample : Yahoo.com ,Alta Vista.com , Excite.com

Cont.Other kinds of portal:Other kinds of portal:

e-Commerce or e-business or e-business Portals Provide information on products and services Provide information on products and services

Facilitate the sharing of information to external partners, customers and Facilitate the sharing of information to external partners, customers and suppliers. suppliers.

Often include supply chain management features.Often include supply chain management features.

Usually have a transactional processing componentUsually have a transactional processing component

E-commerce portals aim to increase the value of the relationship whilst E-commerce portals aim to increase the value of the relationship whilst lowering the cost.lowering the cost.

Example: e-Bay.co.uk ,amazon.comExample: e-Bay.co.uk ,amazon.com , The Trainline.comThe Trainline.com

Cont.Information Resource Portals Information Resource Portals give researchers a “view” on Information Resource Portals give researchers a “view” on

informational resources.informational resources.

These are typically large collections of records of a particular kind. These are typically large collections of records of a particular kind.

Cross searching multiple related collections is one important goal of Cross searching multiple related collections is one important goal of these portals. these portals.

Example: Data Portal Example: Data Portal , , British Academy PortalBritish Academy Portal

Institutional PortalsInstitutional Portals These portals provide all information about an institution and the These portals provide all information about an institution and the

services it provides.services it provides.

This needs to be presented as both external views and to institution This needs to be presented as both external views and to institution members.members.

Example: Anglia , London School of EconomicsExample: Anglia , London School of Economics

Cont. Portals for e-Learning, Awareness and Portals for e-Learning, Awareness and

TrainingTraining

E-Learning portalE-Learning portal focus on guiding students through a structured learning focus on guiding students through a structured learning experience and providing the necessary support to increase effectiveness of the experience and providing the necessary support to increase effectiveness of the portalportalas a means of delivery of course material.as a means of delivery of course material.

Example : CHEFExample : CHEF

Awareness and training portalsAwareness and training portals are more focused and specialize in a are more focused and specialize in a specific area for a more experienced audience.specific area for a more experienced audience.

Material is provided to researchers wishing to take on board new techniques, Material is provided to researchers wishing to take on board new techniques, such as e-Science.such as e-Science.

Example : Example : GENIUSGENIUS

Cont.

Collaboration portalsCollaboration portals Enable a geographically dispersed workforce to interact around Enable a geographically dispersed workforce to interact around

projects and business through a common access or rallying point.projects and business through a common access or rallying point.

Offer generic tools such as chat, white boardsOffer generic tools such as chat, white boards

Example : CHEFExample : CHEF

Grid Information PortalsGrid Information Portals Simply provides information about Grid resources (computers, Simply provides information about Grid resources (computers,

databases) and their capabilities . databases) and their capabilities .

GridGrid information portal will combine sources to create query results information portal will combine sources to create query results

Example : Example : InfoPortalInfoPortal

Cont.

Grid Application PortalsGrid Application Portals

Grid application portals provide a variety of mechanisms to access Grid application portals provide a variety of mechanisms to access “active” services such as generate new data, information or “active” services such as generate new data, information or knowledge through simulation, data merging or mining from on-line knowledge through simulation, data merging or mining from on-line instrumentsinstruments . .

Example:GridPortExample:GridPort

Portal softwares

Portal software provides the platform and tools needed to deliver information and Portal software provides the platform and tools needed to deliver information and services to the public, staff, vendors, and partners.  Portal software gives you the services to the public, staff, vendors, and partners.  Portal software gives you the ability to manage information in a coherent and structured fashion while ability to manage information in a coherent and structured fashion while providing a productive tool for your audience. providing a productive tool for your audience.

Portal Software is a web based application to bring your audience, application, Portal Software is a web based application to bring your audience, application, systems, and processes together to form a centralized collaboration experience.systems, and processes together to form a centralized collaboration experience.

Portal software integrates technologies to build personalized work areas and Portal software integrates technologies to build personalized work areas and communities to increase productivity for users.  Portal Software is built for communities to increase productivity for users.  Portal Software is built for corporate intranets, extranets, communities, web sites, and projects . corporate intranets, extranets, communities, web sites, and projects .

Portal Software Benefits

Efficiently deliver information to the audience Efficiently deliver information to the audience

Increase productivity for the end user Increase productivity for the end user

Provides customizable features and development tools Provides customizable features and development tools

Increase interaction between customers and employees Increase interaction between customers and employees

Personalized environments for end users Personalized environments for end users

Integration of external applications and services by portletsIntegration of external applications and services by portlets

ACFN Portal This is an online premium service provided to Air Canada Flight AttendantsThis is an online premium service provided to Air Canada Flight Attendants

It is an Internet tool for posting requests for flightIt is an Internet tool for posting requests for flight . .

It is accessible from any Internet computer anywhere in the world 24 hrsIt is accessible from any Internet computer anywhere in the world 24 hrs/ / 7 7 days a weekdays a week..

ACFN will provide an explanation of terms and stepACFN will provide an explanation of terms and step--byby--step instructionsstep instructions. .

The ACFN respects your privacy Therefore will not, sell or give your The ACFN respects your privacy Therefore will not, sell or give your

information to anyone .information to anyone .

References :

http://www.chozamsoftware.com/softwarehttp://www.chozamsoftware.com/software

http://campustechnology.com/techtalks/transcripts.asphttp://campustechnology.com/techtalks/transcripts.asp

http://www.e.govt.nz/http://www.e.govt.nz/

http://www.eu-portal.net/http://www.eu-portal.net/

http://tyne.dl.ac.uk/ReDRESS/Portals/portalshttp://tyne.dl.ac.uk/ReDRESS/Portals/portals

http://www.acfamily.net/acfnews/part1.htmhttp://www.acfamily.net/acfnews/part1.htm

http://www.airlinecrew.net/vbulletin/archivehttp://www.airlinecrew.net/vbulletin/archive

Any question

Thank you