Late Nite Prototyping

Here are a couple of links in preparation for a meeting tomorrow
where I get to explain how I use RSS feeds.

What is an RSS Feed?

Definition: Wikipedia has a good overall description.

There’s a video explaining RSS feeds in plain English:

[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU&hl=en&fs=1%5D

How do I use RSS feeds?

To follow niche topics: to keep up with news
and topics that I am interested in. My advice: don’t subscribe to
any high-volume news feeds like CNN or the BBC. Use it to stay
up-to-date on topics that you are following regularly, e.g. I’ve
subscribed to a number of websites that write about technology in
Africa.As a single-source input base with endless
distribution possibilities: I can distribute and
cross-reference itemsÃ‚ on other websites of mine using RSS.
For example, I can display my latest Chiperoni.ch entry at another
website and vice versa.Ã‚ WordPress, the web technology I use
at this site,Ã‚ offers RSS feeds for comments, categories and
tags. For example the RSS feed address for entries categorized as
Malawi is: http://www.chiperoni.ch/wordpress/category/malawi/feed/
This is a simple but great way to make a website more dynamic. See
also my recent prototype.

Advantages versus a regular email newsletter:

I can easily unsubscribe a feed, if I want (less hassle than
email newsletter).I can decide in what intervals I would like to
receive updates.I can choose where I want to read a feed (in a
desktop reader, in my email inbox or in web-based tool).I can
subscribe to an RSS feed via email.

Tools:

I currently use Google Reader, a web-based feed
reader. I have used dedicated desktop feed readers, other
web-based tools, and the feed reader of Mozilla
Thunderbird and Apple Mail. My
preferences change from time to time. A web-based reader has the
advantage of being accessible where ever I have Internet access
and a browser. Email clients are great for a corporate
environment.