>We are currently having a debate about the value of serving a different
>University home page depending on location. Hence, all external users
>would receive information of general interest, whereas internal users
>would receive a page more relevant for their needs. Such an approach is
>achievable with mechanisms in Apache. It would be expected that all
>users could still access both sets of pages via a single click anyway.

At Aberystwyth we are currently implementing such an idea. The main
driving force for this for us is that the home page is just far too
cluttered and tries to be all things to all men. Since over the summer
we are having a major re-design of the site, we thought we would bundle
all the changes in together. (A wise move? We'll see!!!).

We are also going one step further and adding a different page for staff
and students, as well as the external view point. Mechanically this is
being done using the IP address - we know internal ranges and what their
uses are, and so we can redirect on that.

Being in Wales we also have the added complication of a bi-lingual site
which makes for even more fun and games.

What we have also decided to do is make the staff and student pages into
(dare I use the word) portals where the user gets given generic
information, but can log in and get personalised information.

What is going to be the challenge is to let the user know that they have
a choice, and that they are seeing one of a number of views. If we can
crack this, then hopefully the idea will work as users will be aware
from parts of the content that they have been redirected to a particular
view and will find it intuitive to swap to their preferred view. Once
they have made their choice, cookies are set holding their language and
user types.

That's the West Wales opinion anyway on the subject! :)

Have a good day,


Stuart
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Datblygydd Cymwysiadau'r We            Web Applications Developer
Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth                      Information Services
Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth       University of Wales Aberystwyth

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                 Ffon / Tel: (01970) 622860
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