Based on how they describe themselves to journalists they are all simply
whatever the
latest fashionable term is. The problem with the term portal, people have
discovered, is
that a portal is a doorway, rather than a destination. So they just pass
through -- not much
good for attracting advertising dollars, or for selling content!
In the case of services like BioMedNet and ChemWeb I think a more
interesting question is:
are they the virtual communities they say they are? I've yet to find a user
of any of these
services that feels they are part of a community. What, I wonder, are the
implications of that
for content providers spending lots of money ($2.5 million a year in the
case of ChemWeb)
to build and run these services?
Users seem to find more of a sense of community in mailing lists like
this -- which I must
assume are somewhat cheaper to run!
(If any user does feel they are part of a community in using a commercial
online service
I'd love to hear from you!)
Richard Poynder
Freelance Journalist
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/df04/
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Hyndman, Martin
> Sent: 11 January 1999 09:18
> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: After portals - hubs and home bases ?
>
>
>
> Is BioMednet an example of a "Portal" whereas Estates Gazette
> Interactive is
> an example of a "Hub"?
>
> If so are we talking about the age old distinction between academic (STM)
> publishing and content organised to help the professional do their job
> better/make more money?
>
> Martin Hyndman
> Sweet & Maxwell Ltd
> 100 Avenue Road
> London NW3 3PF
> UK
>
> +44 (0) 171 393 7175
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.smlawpub.co.uk
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Saturday, January 09, 1999 1:37 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Cc: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: After portals - hubs and home bases ?
> >
> > Portals, it seems, are just a phase, according to Jesse Berst,
> Editorial
> > Director of ZDNet AnchorDesk, in his 1st July "Berst Alert" -
> >
> > What's Next After Portals?
> >
> >
http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/story/story_2263.
> html
>
> Hubs are more focused, "with content, commerce and community appropriate
> to one
> particular audience", and home bases are "personalized start pages".
>
> Like commercialised subject gateways and designing your own home page with
> the
> links you want on it?
>
> Anne L Barker
>
> **************************************************************************
> ******
> Dr Anne L Barker (Lecturer) (email:
> [log in to unmask])
> Department of Information and Library Studies (tel: +44 (0)1970 -
> 622186)
> University of Wales Aberystwyth (fax: +44 (0)1970 -
> 622190)
> Llanbadarn Campus
> ABERYSTWYTH SY23 3AS
> Ceredigion
> WALES, UK
> **************************************************************************
> ******
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