1

2

Web site?• Traditional static web site:

•1 editor enters and updates content

•Navigation often problematic•‘What is new’ not easy to know•Pull only: visitors must

remember to visit your site

3

IODE = COMMUNITY1. All community members should be able to submit

content2. We should be able to have several editors3. We should have an easy to use tree structure4. We should be able to combine text, links to

documents, links to web sites and start discussions5. We should be able to “harvest” content from multiple

sites and display in other site6. We should be able to inform users about new content7. System must be Open Source,Low-cost and flexible

4

What is available?• Did Survey of existing portals and

software they use– Eg: OneFish: Oracle DB and custom-

made software– Eg: Simplify (same concept as OneFish

but commercial. mySQL/ PHP)– Eg: other commercial portal software

• Ouch!! Costly: US$ 30,000- US$ 200,000• Open Source?

5

Open Source• DCP (Dotcom-projects,Turkey)• Community Portal solution based on

Open Source database mySQL and open Source code using PHP

• June 2001: version 1.0• Continuous development based upon

feedback and own experience• January 2004: version 2.0 (made at IOC)

6

BeeBox

IODE site: http://www.iode.org

7

1. Membership Registration • Users can register to the site:

– Able to submit content– Will receive content informer (see later)

8

2. All members able to submit • Registered: send content

9

3. Multiple editors: levels • Level 1: Writer

– Can create and validate content for specific categories decided by administrator

– WYSIWYG interface

• Level 2: Administrator– Can create and validate content for all categories– Has other administrator rights related such as

creating top level categories, creating banners, adding documents, adding links, giving rights etc.

10

wysiwyg SubjectCategoryCrosslinksImages

Word like editor

(html option)

11

wysiwyg summaryimage

hotlink

12

4.Easy to use Tree Structure • Dynamically created based on

content management• Expanding menu with

categories and sub-categories:• Top level category

– (eg, Expertise, projects)• Sub-categories (unlimited)

– (eg GEMIM)• Content page

– Knowledge types– Crosslinks

13

5. Combining content

• Bring together different types of content (knowledge types)related to topic

– Topic itself (text and images)– Links to e-documents– Links to other web sites/pages– Links to events– Links to discussion forum

14

Content Types: Example

Topic

Sub-category

Links to e-docs

15

Result

• All content related to a topic are put together in one page so users can have a clear overview of all information available

16

6. inform users about new content

• Small, specialized sites with ‘homogenous’ membership: all members will receive content informer message for all new content: very effective

• Inbuilt mailing list

17

6. Low-cost and flexible

• Low cost– As BeeBox is based on open

source technology the application can be offered free by IOC

• Flexible– IOC maintains the software and

further develops features according to user requirements. In-house expertise available

18

Current ‘clients’

– IODE sites (IODE home, marineXML, ODINAFRICA partner site, OIT)

– IOC sites (Ocean Science, HAB, IOCARIBE, IOCINCWIO, ITSU)

– Others: JCOMM. Interest shown by several external organizations

19Thank youThank you