CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0    Introduction
The term online in regards to computer technology and communication means that the computer is connected to a network. In a network, computers are allowed to share resources such as hardware, software, data and information. The access to the resources on the network is controlled by a server. (Shelly, Cashman, Vermaat, 2006). The term online system refers to a computer system which allows online users to transmit and receive information (Publishing Dictionary, 2011).
Nowadays, an online system plays a major role in almost all organizations. One major advantage of using an online system is it provides a convenient way of doing things at anytime and anywhere as long as there is an Internet connection.
Today’s university system has an increasing need for an efficient, reliable and accessible computerized system that will manage information. Hence the need for computerized system cannot be over emphasized.
1.1    AIM
The project work is aimed at providing a functional web application for the department where students can get news about past, present and future events ongoing within the department.
The proposed system will undertake the dissemination of information within the department of Computer science and Information Technology.
1.2    Objectives of the Study
The project work is aimed at creating an up-to-date computerized online news portal system where students in computer science and information technology can get news about past, present and future events ongoing in the department.
The following are the objectives of the study:
1)    Provide Information: Online news portal give information about every field- political, social, sports, education, science, entertainment etc to the public.
2)    Educate People: Online news portals not only provide information but also educate people about the social & political structure. People come to know about the upcoming challenges and learn how to combat the circumstances.
3)    Instant & Latest News: Online news portals made latest news only a single click away. People can get a minute update across the globe only by a single click.
4)    News per Interest: People have their own interest. Some might be have interest in politics while others can have interest in sports or entertainment. Web media does not work on bullet theory. People have ample of options to choose from. They can read news as per their interest.
5)    Easily Accessible: Online news portals are easily accessible. Today 66 per cent of people have smart phones and they access internet on their smart phones only. People can get updated with the latest updates anywhere they go.
6)    Live Coverage of Sports: Online news portals provide live coverage of sports. News portals do not let disappoint fans of any sports no matter whether it is cricket match or a tennis tournament. Fans can get updated with the scores while they are at work.
7)    Easy Feedback Receiver: It is a big task for traditional media to collect feedback from their readers or viewers. But for web media, it is not a hard nut to crack. News portals can get feedback from their viewers by comment option. Even news website can get comment on their every news. It is a two way communication. People can easily send their views and feedback.
8)    Minute to Minute coverage of any breaking news: News websites do minute to minute coverage of breaking news. It is not possible for people to wait for next morning for news or sit all time in front of television to watch breaking news. Web media has broken all these barriers. People can get news on their mobile anywhere they go.
9)    Pictures of news events: People can watch exclusive pictures of news events.
More generally, a portal, often called portal software, is a Web-based application that brings audience, application, systems and processes together to form a centralized collaboration experience. Portal software integrates technologies to build personalized work areas and communities to increase productivity for users. Portal software is built for corporate intranets, extranets, communities, Web sites, and projects, just to name a few. Depending on the kind of business needs and the portal software, one can expect to gain several benefits from using portal software in any environment. Some of the benefits are (Chozam, 2006):
✓    Efficiently deliver information to the audience.
✓    Increase productivity for the end user.
✓    Provides customizable features and development tools.
✓    Increase interaction between customers and employees.
✓    Personalized environments for end users.
✓    Integration of external applications and services by port lets.
1.3    Significance of the Study
Below are the significances of the project:
✓    Professionally publishes and manages an online news publication quickly and easily
✓    Full-featured and ready to go today - right "off-the-shelf"
✓    Low Total Cost of Ownership - Low startup& training costs with continuing low operating costs
✓    A versatile content management tool that can be used to publish a wide variety of information, such as online newspapers, press releases, reports and papers, dissertations, etc.
✓    A portal provides Internet users with a single,customized entry point to network- based campus. In the higher-education context, the portalsof most interest are horizontal, that is, they are designed to offer access to almost everything that an individual user associated with thecampus needs to manage his or her relationship with the University. These users can include students, faculty, staff, parents, prospectivestudents, alumni, and members of the community at large.