RSS and You
October 4, 2008
RSS logo
If you are one of the millions of users on the Internet, you would most likely come across a tiny (usually orange colored box) with the letters RSS written within the box. You may also see this orange square with white markings of a dot and two sloped lines of different lengths (indicating radio waves). The acronym RSS means Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary. What does RSS mean to you?
RSS is a data system that delivers information to you upon your request. This delivery system provides you with information that constantly changes, keeping you up-to-date with current events of your choice. According to Wikipedia, “[a]n RSS document (which is called a “feed“, “web feed“, or “channel“) includes full or summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates and authorship”. For example, blog postings, or news information-in audio or video format can be updated frequently in an RSS format. RSS comes to you in the form of what is referred to as an aggregator.
This aggregator contains all updates accessible in one location. RSS is like web surfing-only it is done automatically by your computer. All the information via RSS is provided to you as events occur-updated and ready for viewing or listening. “RSS feeds uses software called an “RSS reader“, “feed reader“, or “aggregator“, which can be web-based or desktop-based” (Wikipedia).
The data format used to provide you with this frequent update of information is referred to as a news feed or web feed. Distributors syndicate a web feed, and by so doing, you can subscribe to the RSS.
A reader-you-with interest in my blog can subscribe and receive all new information on my pages, posts, and comments as they become available.
Watch a video
Sources cited:
http://blip.tv/file/213757 [View another video here!]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_feed
http://elearningweekly.wordpress.com
/2008/07/30/blogs-and-rss-as-learning-tools/
http://newman.richmond.edu:2511/hww/results/getResults. jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/advancedsearch/advanced_search.jhtml.3
October 11, 2008 at 11:38 am
I am apparently really behind the times. I had never heard of RSS. What a great concept though. Instead of wasting my time to go look at the sites I like to look at, I can just have the information sent to one location. With the information being sent as it is added, I do not have to worry about it being three days old and just receiving it. This will be a great tool to keep up with the information I want to receive.