2.3 Introduction to personalization 

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Introduction to personalization

WebSphere Portal implements rule-based content delivery through a feature known as Personalization. By using personalization, Web sites can customize content automatically for each user. Personalization can recognize a specific user based on a profile. It can also determine characteristics of a user based on previous purchases, products, or pages viewed and then select content that is appropriate for that profile.

In the case of the River Bend Coffee and Tea Company site, a simple personalization rule and example was implemented to better illustrate the concept. The personalization rule implemented was based on dates. If the dates for accessing the site are within a range of defined "Summer dates", then the home page illustrates a summer-based image of a refreshing iced coffee drink, as shown in the following figure. If the dates for accessing the site are within a range of defined "Winter dates", then the home page illustrates a winter-based image of a hot coffee drink.



For more detailed information about this topic, refer to this document which explains the details of the personalization rules used for this sample site.