i/s NewsLink Web Site Targets MIT Computer Users

Jeanne Cavanaugh

In September 1, Information Systems officially launches i/s NewsLink, a Web site 
that publishes timely news of interest to computer users in the MIT community. 
By frequenting this Web page, IS customers will be able keep pace with changes 
in technology on campus. The site will offer several features that a print 
publication like i/s cannot: frequent updates, hypertext links, a search 
mechanism, and multimedia capabilities.
 
So if you're an IS customer who likes to keep in the swim of things, open your 
browser and create a bookmark:
 
http://web.mit.edu/ist/newslink/

News and Links 
As suggested by its name, the i/s NewsLink site serves two functions: 
it provides technology news and useful links to other resources on the Web. You 
get to news items and links by selecting the category you're interested in from 
the site's navigation bar.

Featured topics include:
 
* IS Highlights (new services and special offers)

* Courses and Events

* Software Spotlight (recommended systems and software; updates and patches; 
licensing information)

* Virus and Security Issues

The site also provides platform-oriented news and links for Macintosh, PC, UNIX, 
and Athena users.

Presentation on the Page 
In each category, news is presented as short bulleted items that have links to 
more detailed information. The items are dated, and as they are replaced by 
fresher news, they are moved to an online, searchable archive.
 
Underneath the news items for each category is a list of 6 to 10 related 
hypertext links. While some of these links take you to MIT-specific information, 
most connect to resources outside the Institute.

Other Features
The site's navigation bar has a feedback option. If you have a comment, 
question, or suggestion while you're browsing the site, just fill out the 
feedback form and click on Send. Your comments will be sent via email to the 
editor of the site, Robyn Fizz. You can fill out the feedback form anonymously 
if you wish.

The navigation bar also provides a link to the i/s newsletter home page and to 
assorted search engines that focus on technology news. 

Site Evolution
After evaluating customer feedback, IS may add new topics to the NewsLink 
navigation bar. Another option being considered is the creation of a mailing 
list, open to anyone in the community who wants to sign up. Members of the 
mailing list would receive a weekly email message, with one or two news items 
and a reminder to visit the NewsLink site.