Investigation into personal ‘Start Page’ options
Introduction to gadgets
Gadgets are HTML and JavaScript applications that conform to the Google
Gadget/OpenSocial gadget specifications.
Gadgets can be deployed to any platform that supports the OpenSocial container
specification. Simple Google gadgets can be deployed to any website and
developments such as Apache Shindig and Google Friend Connect allow developers
to incorporate a gadget container platform within their own social network/website.
Popular platforms that support gadgets include: iGoogle, Google Sites, Orkut,
MySpace, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, Ning and Hi5.
Gadgets are generally used in regard to the personalisation of a web space; a
container may allow for customisation of the gadgets displayed, a gadget may
display content specifically targeted to an individual.
Gadgets that use the OpenSocial aspect of the specification can interact with the
social elements of the platform they have been deployed to. Typical social
networking features include the ability to interrogate the user’s friends list, create
activity (status) updates and differentiate between the ‘owner’ and ‘viewer’ of a
gadget (public profile pages).
Example of a social network profile (Orkut) displaying a gadget
http://beyondwork.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/orkut-opensocial-google-gadgets-google-map-geolocateyour-friends/
As part of the DOULS project a number of personal gadgets that interact with the
Open University’s virtual learning environment (VLE) will be produced. Whilst these
gadgets could be deployed to any compatible OpenSocial container, wider adoption
by users is likely if we can promote and support a single platform. The university has
recently adopted Google Apps for education, with this platform being available to all
students, and it has a number of tools that support the use of gadgets.
When presenting a ‘portal’ to Google Apps users, where they can pick and chose
gadgets to display in a personal space, there are two options available that require
consideration.
Google Apps for education: ‘Start Page’ options
There are two methods for presenting personal gadget enabled pages (containers) to
Google Apps users. Referred to as the Google Apps ‘start page’ the two options are:
1. iGoogle
2. User start page
iGoogle is the default ‘start page’ for Google Apps, replacing an original start page
option. The user start page option is a Google site based on the ‘start page’ template
that Google provides.
Neither of these options functions as the default landing/homepage for a domain
Google Apps user, this is a screen showing a list of the most useful tools (Mail, Docs
etc). It looks possible to change this landing page to either of the options if required.
Accessing the different options
1. iGoogle
A ‘Start Page’ link can be placed in the main list of tools shown at the top of the
Google Apps page.
Or, visit the iGogle page (www.google.com/ig) and sign-in as a Google Apps user.
2. User ‘start page’
The user ‘start page’ is created in Google Sites and will have a url of
https://sites.google.com/a/domain/(name) . This can be changed in the administrative
settings to a short address e.g. start.domain. The user start page cannot be linked
from the list of tools, so (unless it is set to the landing page) users would need to be
directed to it elsewhere.
Contents
1. iGoogle
 Blank ‘canvas’ that the user populates.
 Users can add any gadget in the gadget ‘directory’.
 Gadgets can be pushed into iGoogle via an ‘add to Google’ button which can
be placed on any website.
This can add an individual gadget or a whole tab (with multiple gadgets).
 Android and iPhone versions.
 Supports chat (Google Talk).
 Supports viewing of status updates.
2. User start page
 Uses Google sites, so can be ‘designed’ with custom text, images, layout.
 Can be pre-populated with in-built gadgets.
 Can be pre-populated with personal gadgets (user can remove).
 Users can add any gadget in the gadget ‘directory’; this list can be altered via
whitelisting and blacklisting (which affects all sites in the domain).
‘Private’ domain only gadgets can also be listed.
Example of user start page:
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=179916
Gadget feature test
A test gadget was deployed to each option to ascertain feature availability.
iGoogle (signed in as a Google Apps for education user):
 Friend support (can be disabled by user on a per gadget basis)
 Updates (status) support (can be disabled by user on a per gadget basis)
 Canvas view support (maximise gadget)
 Gadgets can be positioned on screen by user
 Gadgets can be ‘shared’ with contacts
 Owner and viewer ID supported
 OAuth consumer key signing supported
 Oauth public key signing supported (www.google.com)
 Container identified as “http://www.google.com/ig”
User start page (Google Sites):
 Friend support (when signed-in)
 Update support (when signed-in)
 Owner and viewer ID supported (when signed-in)
 OAuth consumer key signing supported
 Oauth public key signing supported (www.google.com)
 Container identified as “http://sites.google.com”
Pre-populated gadgets
 Size and position can be determined by site owner
Personal (user-added) gadgets
 Canvas view support (maximise gadget, not full screen)
 Gadgets can be positioned on screen by user
For both options the user’s friends list is determined by the ‘Friends’ contacts in
Gmail. This is not the case with the non Apps for education version of iGoogle as
normally contacts can be controlled separately within iGoogle (a Google account
does not necessarily have Gmail enabled).
iGoogle screen: demonstrating tabs, canvas view and social networking features
User experience
1. iGoogle
Users would access iGoogle via the ‘Start Page’ link at the top of Google Apps for
education tools.
When accessing iGoogle for the first time users are presented with a default set of
gadgets including weather and youtube gadgets.
In order to promote the use of OU gadgets (and others that users may find useful)
there would ideally be a list of gadgets available to users, on the VLE or Student
Home, with help and support information. This list could contain ‘add to Google’
buttons that would add gadgets or sets of gadgets to the user’s iGoogle page.
Users can personalise iGoogle as they wish, adding tabs, gadgets and changing the
theme (design).
2. User start page
The user start page would need to be accessed from another site such as the VLE or
Student Home. With the single sign-on process users will be automatically signed in
to their Google account when viewing the start page.
Content in the start page could give information and support on gadgets and a
selection of the most useful gadgets could be built into the page. The page could be
designed with OU branding – so it looks familiar to users.
Users could add gadgets into their personal area of the page using the gadget
directory. This process could target gadgets that are produced by the OU or are seen
as useful by ‘whitelisting’ them (only approved gadgets are shown in the directory).
Summary
iGoogle is a personal space; users can personalise it as they please and there is
strong support for social networking. It is a space where users can interact not only
with Google products but with the whole web.
The user start page is more directed; it is a pre-defined space that you are providing
users with and they interact with services you dictate. Social interaction is not
promoted and there is only a small element of personalisation.
From a technical perspective there is no difference between the two options; both
support all gadget features.
Appendix
Feature comparison
iGoogle Google
for
Sites
Google Start
Apps
Page
Feature
Data migration
from Google
Apps Start Page
If you used the previous version of the Start
Page service, all gadgets on users' current
Start Pages are migrated, except locked
gadgets
"Start Page" link
maps to new
Start Page
Users can click the existing Start Page link
above their Gmail or other Google service
page to open iGoogle.
Users can add
gadgets
Gadgets allow users to embed dynamic
content on their Start Page, such as a Gmail
viewer, news feeds, and more.
Administratorcontrolled gadget
directory
Administrator can whitelist (allow) or
blacklist (disallow) gadgets for use in the
domain on the Start Page. Learn more
(With iGoogle, users can access any
gadgets.)
Private gadgets
for domain
You can create private gadgets that only
users in your domain can see. Learn more
Administratorcontrolled
theme/colors/font
s
Administrator selects the theme, so users
can't use inappropriate themes for their Start
Pages. (With iGoogle, users can choose
from over 5,000 themes.)
Administrator
can lock content
&
specify default
gadgets
Administrator can add content (such as
announcements), branding, and gadgets in a
locked area on the Start Page
Full-page gadgets
Canvas view lets users view gadgets in a
(canvas view)
full-screen width that provides more
functionality.Learn more
Gmail gadget
Users can read and send email messages
right from their iGoogle page.
Chat gadget
Google Talk is embedded on the iGoogle
page (if your domain has enabled Google
Talk).
Tabbed pages
Users can add pages to organize content in
iGoogle.
Links to Google
services at top of
page
Users can quickly access Gmail, Calendar,
and other services using the navigation bar
at the top of the page.
Your logo on the
page
If you uploaded a logo for your domain
using the admin control panel, it appears on
the Start Page.
Custom
header/footer
You can change the size and logo in the
header, and show or hide links to other site
pages and files in the footer.
Custom CSS
This customization isn't available in either
iGoogle or the Google Sites Start Page
template.
(http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=180378)
More information:
Gadgets API
http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/
About the Google Apps Start Page
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=166741
Create user Start Page using Sites
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=179916
iGoogle vs. Google Sites Start Page
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?answer=180378
iGoogle for mobile
http://www.google.com/mobile/igoogle/
Personalize iGoogle: Updates and Friends
http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer=151672
Private Gadget Administrator's Guide
http://code.google.com/p/google-feedserver/wiki/PrivateGadgetAdministratorsGuide
Google gadgets for sites
http://code.google.com/apis/sites/gadgets/site_gadgets.html