Rensselaer Luwak
Bringing content, design &
application logic together
by keeping them apart
Kevin Bishop, Arlen Johnson
Communication and Collaboration
Technologies, Division of the CIO,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
HighEdWeb
June 24, 2002
Rochester, NY
Rensselaer Luwak
Outline
• “Luwak” background
• The problem
• Our solution
• Other applications
• How it works and why
• Future directions
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“Luwak” Background
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Initial Problem
• Managing Campus Web Presence
– Many content origins, owners &
“disowners”
– Writing and web publishing skill levels
vary
– Outdated information
– Inconsistent presentation
– “Diffusion of responsibility”
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C&CT’s Solution
• Provide a content management system
that identifies and enables distinct roles
in the web publishing process:
– Content provider
– Designer
– Programmer
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Roles
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Roles
Templates
Images
XSLT
CSS
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Roles
APPS
DB
Code
Templates
Images
XSLT
CSS
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“The Kiosk”
• First Luwak application
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Printed newsletter from the 1980s
Time consuming production cycle
Quickly outdated
Scattered, incomplete information
Web version was flat duplicate of print;
no value added other than web access
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The Kiosk as Catalyst:
The First Luwak Clone
• Continuously updated
• Dynamic: automatic expiry, multiple
skins, output to any media
• Admin. interface expedites editorial
review and publication
• Reverses production from “print 
web” to “Luwak  any media”
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Admin View
Client View
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After The Kiosk
• Help Desk documentation
• Internal communications & clippings
repository
• Public relations & collaboration tool
• International community building site
• Computer store inventory
• Exhibition of residence halls
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Help Desk Documentation
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Arch. Community Building
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Engineering News & PR
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Computer Store
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Residence Life
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Syndication:
being two places at once
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