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As the web community grows and diversifies, developers are looking for ways to add security to the user experience. Today, the use of privileges through assigning users and groups to areas of a site has eliminated the need to lock people out of a site at the front door. Many content management systems allow viewing privileges to be set at every level of the site, from entire pages to the smallest piece of content. A user can visit a site and not even be aware that more exists for users given greater privileges. No unfriendly error messages, no warnings, no threats when a user lands upon a page with "restricted access." Instead, the user is allowed to browse the site content in happy ignorance that there is more to the page than meets the eye.

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Those who pay money for subscription services can also rest assured that they are getting their money's worth and know that the content they paid for is indeed privileged access. And, although it sounds counter-intuitive, privilege systems today can also play a role in the personalization process. Normally, we think of security in terms of restriction. However, progressive content management systems are capable of dynamically generating user privileges based on IP address, how often users interact with the site, and even what links the user has clicked on. This allows the entire browsing experience to be interactive, and interaction is the key to personal communication, whether it be with a human or computer.

What about website users who demand control? Many websites want their users to feel that their web experience is the most personalized available, and often presenting users with options that allow them to select and personalize the look and feel of the site is the best way to do that. Instead of a one size fits all portal, dashboards allow users to select content from a predefined menu to display only that information that they deem necessary. In some content management systems site administrators can place content on a menu with a simple click for the user to select from, and usability is foremost with simple drag and drop positioning. Users are presented with options and control, yet maintenance is simple. Content placed in the menu is derived from pre-existing site content, and through the use of shortcuts is updated automatically anytime original content is updated within the site. Users get the personalized interface they desire, while site maintenance is kept uniform.

The portal is no longer a beacon of forward thinking. Moving forward calls for change, and dynamically generated sites are the best way to respond to that change. It's time to move beyond the initial landing page and truly present users with a dynamic and user-driven experience. Anais Nin once remarked, " We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are." In that vein, it's time to recognize that a portal can only deliver a preconceived notion; it's time to live up to the challenge of developing a user experience that allows people to see through their own eyes.

JT Smith is the President of Plain Black Corporation, the developer and distributor of the WebGUI Content Engine. He speaks internationally on topics related to web content management.

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