From SOWNWiki

SOWN Portal is a Portal site for users of SOWN. Development of the Portal is ongoing, although some functionality is already available.

Contents 1 Implemented Features 1.1 General 1.2 SOWN 1.3 Search / Internet 2 Suggested Features 2.1 General 2.2 SOWN 2.3 Search / Internet 2.4 University 3 Layout/Design

Implemented Features

General

• News Feed (BBC News)
• Weather
• Clock
• Flickr feed (local photos)
• QOTD

SOWN

• Your Location

Search / Internet

• Google

Suggested Features

General

• Southampton.gov.uk ?
• Community aspects

SOWN

• Service Status
• SOWN News (ie Deployment of new services)
• SOWN VoIP
  • Signup
  • Your number
  • Voicemail indication
  • Call log
• SOWN Settings
  • Change Password
• Wiki
• Get involved! How to join sown

Search / Internet

• Wikipedia

University

• Webmail / Outlook
• SUSU
• Surge
• School Homepage
• Main university site

Layout/Design

Lots of similar portal type sites exist. Could copy the layout of iGoogle, Live.com, BBC etc. Stick with same colour scheme as the rest of SOWN sites to keep consistency.

I would suggest a 3 column style, with a narrow column on either side and a wider central column. - Crwilliams