Using the personal web server, faculty can update colleagues at other institutions on their research, for instance, while students can post an electronic version of their resumes to aid their job-hunting. But employees and students also post family photos, describe their hobbies or indulge in a little frivolity. Administrators say the personal web server reflects Boston College's commitment to provide the means for easy communication, on campus and world wide. While they acknowledge that offering this service has meant confronting issues that have accompanied the web's increasing popularity, such as privacy, they feel the potential benefits make it a worthwhile venture. For an individual, up until now there has been no easy way to do that.
Technology makes it possible in a practical, efficient way.
Ultimately, though, the web lets people share many sides of their lives in a way they couldn't before. Pages currently on the server represent a range of experience and familiarity with web-related technology, some elaborately written and designed, others displaying little more than names and addresses. Faculty often list the courses they teach as well as their research, while administrators and staff describe their projects and areas of responsibilities. Some employees also have included material on topics of personal interest such as adoption, crotcheting and science fiction. I've found it to be a great tool.