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Emerging Technology: RSSUnderstanding RSS

CATS 2005 Presentation

Steve Sloansteve.sloan@sjsu.eduhttp://sloantech.blogspot.com/

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Understanding RSS

All you need to know:Keeping it simple!Good functional definitions

RSS (pronounced "arr-ess-ess") is a web syndication protocol primarily used by news websites and weblogs

Format for delivering summaries of regularly changing web content

RSS is the format for repackaging and viewing content from changing websites

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Goals Define key terms associated with RSSProvide an overview of the

technologies associated with RSSDiscuss how RSS, and related

technologies, can be a way to manage information

Discuss possible ways that RSS and related technologies may evolve

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Really Simple SyndicationA family of XML based web-content

distribution and republication (Web syndication) protocols primarily used by news sites and weblogs.

Other definitionsRich Site SummaryRDF Site Summary

Terms: RSS

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RSS: A technical definition

More than you need to know:RSS is a file format that allows anyone with a

website — from large media companies to individual commentators — to easily "syndicate" their content, similar to how comic strips and popular columns are syndicated by their owners to hundreds of newspapers. Except that on the Web, the RSS syndication is usually free, and the content that is syndicated is often not the full entry, but excerpts and links back to the originating website.

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Terms: Weblog A weblog, Web log or simply a blog, is a web application which contains periodic, reverse chronologically ordered posts on a common webpage. Such a Web site would typically be

accessible to any Internet useThe changing nature of weblogs, and

their reverse chronological ordering, makes them especially suited to RSS feeding

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Terms: Feed A file document, in XML format, associated with a changing website, typically a weblog

As with all XML documents, RSS documents employ a set of tags that describe elements of the text

Typically these files are updated dynamically as the site changes

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Terms: Aggregation

A program that reads an RSS or an Atom feed is called an aggregator

Aggregator programs collect data from multiple feeds and consolidate them into a simple to navigate view

Aggregators are typically constructed as extensions to a Web browser, as extensions to an email program, or as standalone programs

An aggregator program is also called a reader

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Terms: Syndication Making Web feeds available from a site so other people can display an updating list of content from itFocuses on changing contentFor example: one's latest forum or

weblog postings, etc.This originated with news and blog sites

but is increasingly used to syndicate any information

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How does RSS work?

FeederThe XML format file is typically updated

dynamically by a web application that lists and links changes to a web site

ReaderA program known as an RSS aggregator,

or feed reader, checks RSS-enabled feeds on behalf of a user and displays any updated information that it finds

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Standards(RSS and Atom) Many flavors of RSS

.9x, 1.x, 2.xAtom (a fork in the road!)

Rooted in RSSNot backwardly compatible with

any of the previous RSS versionsFeedburner™ converts Atom to RSS

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RSS 2.0 and enclosures

Allows for attachments called “enclosures”Podcasting

Download basedVideocastingMediabloggingMobile blogging

(moblogging)Download, not

streaming

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Consuming an RSS feed

Each feed is like a foodEach feed is unique

The reader is like a mealA well rounded meal is an

aggregation of foodsAn RSS reader is the program that

presents the information feedsThe reader provides the user

interface

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Headlines

Content

Feeds

A typical RSS feed

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Many faces of RSS

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How do RSS readers differ?

Three basic types of client side applicationsExtensions to a Web browserExtensions to an email programStandalone programs

Can be Web applicationsCan have widely different user

interfaces

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Web based readers Bloglines

Your RSS feeds can be sharedYou see what the people you read

readMy YahooNewsGator Online

FreeDiVX connected devices

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Local RSS readers Different 3rd party readers for PC + MACHundreds of readersList too long to include

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The real-time web TechnoratiUses RSS to track the popularity of

weblogs by keeping track of links between them

Attention.xmlExtends the RSS reader by focusing on

what people are reading and what information matches the profile of what you normally do read

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Future of RSS Social groups and human relations will be mapped and extend into RSS

XFN, FOAF and RojoRich content can be delivered via download, using RSS

Ability to deliver rich content will grow

PodcastingVideocastingMobile devices

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Mobile devices and RSS

Portable devices with always-on connection will grow market for download based mediaAbility to create, post and access information nears ubiquity

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Secure RSS? Is there such a thing?Transparency not always desiredSecure RSS 2.0 and SSH/SSL encryption technologies could be employedPrivate channels

One to one One to few One to many

RSS = “Digital Dial Tone”

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Transparency By nature RSS is transparent This can be good or bad

May violate privacy Invites the world into the classroom Some solutions for this

Use application layer security (SSL/SSH)Secure RSS?

Do we adapt to provide more transparency, or do we adapt the tool to provide greater security? Route around nature of Internet may make it difficult to

not be transparent

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RSS Pitfalls Get all the news you want, and none you don’t?

Folks can subscribe to channels that only fit their world view

Increase polarization

More Red vs. BlueRaising the bar on information compilation

Increase stress and anxiety

Aggregation aggravation

Overload

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Contact info and conversation

SJSUSteve.sloan@sjsu.edu(408) 924-2374

GeneralSkype/AIM: ssloansjcaWeb: www.edupodder.com

Main Geek Blog: sloantech.blogspot.com(408) 605-0692S_sloan@mac.com

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My Favorite Feeds Bob Scoblescoble.weblogs.com “The human aggregator”

VersiontrackerBoth windows and mac

ItconversationsTreasures of information

Backup BrainDori Smith & her husband

The Big PictureSJSU Alpha Prof Dennis Dunleavy

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www.sjsu.edu/cats/2003/showcase/