my.umich.edu Partial Integration of Dynamic Services with Visual Design

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 2 Agenda Project orientation Demonstration Questions

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 3 Project Orientation Topics Background Design Features Benefits Next Steps Summary

Background

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 5 U-M Gateway ( Traditional “static” web site – Text, images, links – Passive information delivery – “Publish once” model Recognized as successful web project – 2 nd among universities in July 2000 Making improvements to searching and links my.umich builds on Gateway project success

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 6 my.umich – Phase 1 Intent – Provide powerful, extensible, low-cost framework for web-based services Audience selection by Provost and CIO Undergraduate students targeted – Current students first – Prospective students next – Expanded audiences will follow

Design

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 8 Requirements Studies – User roles and tasks identified – Benchmark studies for portals, services Student Input – Services selected in response to student surveys – Student portal use research conducted – Pre-release usability testing in progress – Ongoing student input planned

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 9 Web Technologies Selected Portal Web site – Personalized, customized Web space – Dynamic information delivery – Suite of service packages WebObjects development tool selected – Powerful, modular applications – Useable with unmodified, secure browsers – Built-in access to most database products

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 10 Not Static Web Site Create framework to deliver many types of dynamic information Anticipate rapid expansion of services Enable easy, flexible organization of selected services Keep users and user tasks at the center of design

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 11 Personalized You’ll be remembered! You’ll find things the way you left them. – But your privacy will be protected. Depending on your role(s) within the university, some services will be available, other won’t. Appropriate information can be directed to you.

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 12 Customizable Easy defaults provided Create additional pages to meet your needs. Arrange, label your pages as you wish. Add or remove services to suit your interests. Choose services, information you want to use. – List of Services always available for selections. Your settings will be saved.

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 13 Non-Customizable Areas University bulletins and announcements Institutional “message” themes – Making History – Many targeted themes possible Departmental bulletins and announcements – Targeted by role(s) – Integrated into individual services

Features

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 15 Initial Service Offerings University bulletins & announcements News headlines & summaries Classifieds Portable personal bookmarks Web-based BCP IMAP Campus on-line directory lookup

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 16 Initial Services … Personal Information Manager – Personal calendar – Personal course schedule – To do list – Address book (may be by October) Help Feedback

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 17 Limitations of Initial Release Audience – Focused on students Access – Open to everyone with uniqname, rights to U-M Basic Computing Package Services – Some with limited features Personalization – No targeted information delivery Customization – No additional customized pages beyond front page Graphic design – No options to change look

Benefits

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 19 U-M Participants Designed to supplement, not replace other Web environments Provide personal web-based services – Personalized, appealing to users – Appropriate to user needs by role(s) – Customized starting point for institutional information, community building

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 20 U-M Service Providers Provide targeted service environment – Draws your users back to your services – Enables communication to specific groups Lowers barriers to being service provider – Allows greater focus on content and services – No requirement to create in WebObjects but can use extensible framework Potential development of sharable resources – Coordinated system of data access between units

Next Steps

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 22 my.umich Partnerships U-M Libraries – Working to integrate library services with my.umich CIC, ResComp – Events calendar(s) integration into my.umich PIM – WebObjects data entry forms Many others have expressed interest Explore service provider partnerships – Contact Linda Place

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 23 Timeline Now through late August – Integration completion – Code debugging – Usability testing with students – Help documentation & support training August 28 – Target public release date January – New services added

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 24 Communications Project information on Web – (link) – Questions about project – Announcement list (joinable) –

Summary

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 26 my.umich Integrated Service Environment Web-based access to valued tools and information Access rights defined by role(s) User-centered environment design Dynamic information delivery from diverse data sources Services delivered in common framework

3 August 2000 my.umich Project 27 Project Overview Highlights Creating new, useful, innovative web environment for students Dynamic, not static web site Supplement to, not replacement for other campus web environments Opportunity for community building

Demonstration