Barbara Tuchman said that books are the carriers for civilization. History is silent without books. Science is dumb. Literature is dead. Thought and speculation are at a halt. Her famous quote is universally agreed upon. Books are a medium for conveying knowledge but can also be heavy and take a lot of time to find the information you need. The virtual effects of science are enabling us to store information directly on our computer screens, as opposed to newspapers that may have shortened news for space.

Online portals are now available to the new generation, providing information in a click. There is no magic or drama, just information that can be accessed with a click. The first portals were created not long after the Web was first launched. Portals were and still serve as an important point of entry for Web surfing. Although there are some portals that are niche-oriented that do get some market share but the ones that began early get the most viewership.

Online portals are bringing the entire world of knowledge within reach of everyone. It includes news, headlines and entertainment as well as online shopping, articles, current news, current events, and news updates.

The portals of the past were not as impressive as what they are today and will be in the coming years. Today’s portals are a far cry away from the static, plain first generation. They use new technology to provide a more enjoyable surfing experience. This is due to the widespread availability of broadband. Portals can now hold rich graphics and multimedia, fun animations, and functional applets like stock market tickers or news feeds.

EMarketer’s report highlights this future of portals. It notes that portal services will extend beyond the Web, to include personalized desktops and multimedia search. Portals are primarily funded by advertising. eMarketer notes that the types of advertising used on portals are changing.

Portal services’ future will see major changes beyond traditional search. This is something we already see with Google’s expansion into other areas. In the next few years, all major portals will launch desktop search products and personalized search tools as well as mobile search services.

Private portals are becoming more popular as a way for clients and employees to secure access to their personal information through a password-protected portal website. Large HR departments have found healthcare portals to be a valuable addition. Employees can log in to their healthcare accounts, saving time and money. This also saves time for HR staff who don’t have to deal with low-priority requests for information. Although IT staff are well-equipped to manage the technical aspects of the portal, it is possible for them to leave the entire project in their hands and not seek participation from other areas. This could lead to a portal that does not reflect the business needs of the company. Not just IT should be the priority, but all employees must make it a priority. Online portals are the next generation of information providers.