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What Is RSS? RSS
stands for Really Simple Syndication. It is a web content format which,
when used with an RSS "aggregator" (such as your web browser
or a free news reader you can download) allows IMRF to alert you to new
content on our website. These "news feeds" enables you to avoid
having to browse or search for information on websites. Now the content
you want is delivered directly to you.
RSS feeds are commonly
used on weblogs (blogs), news web sites and other places with frequently
updated content. Once you subscribe to an RSS feed, you can gather material
from web sites of your choosing. It’s a very convenient format because
it allows you to view all the new content from multiple sources in one
location on your desktop.
RSS is written in
the Internet coding language known as XML, which is why you see RSS buttons
labeled that way, commonly with these icons: ,
,
or
How
To Use RSS
Whenever you see an RSS icon, it should link to an RSS feed that you can
subscribe to via your RSS "client." The RSS client allows you
to view the RSS feed.
If you do not have
access to the latest versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer or Microsoft
Outlook, it is very easy to find a stand-alone RSS
news reader that can be downloaded from the internet.
Web users are finding
RSS (along with podcasts) to be a very efficient method for keeping
up with current news that interests them.
RSS saves users
from having to repeatedly visit favorite websites to check for new content
or be notified of updates via email. Instead, article summaries are
delivered directly to them. They can choose to visit the websites when
the RSS feeds contain summaries that look interesting.
It is now very
common to find RSS feeds on most major web sites, as well as many smaller
ones.
According to a
January 2005 Pew
Internet & American Life report (PDF), 5% of internet users
say they use RSS aggregators or XML readers to get news and other time-sensitive
information. An October 2005
Yahoo/Ipsos study (PDF) reported that 12% of internet users are
aware of RSS and 27% consume RSS syndicated content without knowing
it via personalized home pages (e.g. My Yahoo!) Although this is a relatively
small number of users, it is expected to grow. And people who subscribe
to RSS are usually frequent and loyal website visitors.
More and more government
agencies are using RSS to increase awareness of government information.
Adopting new communication
channels leads to better communication with the public.
RSS can allow government
agencies to more easily track updates to each other’s content.
This offers potential for increased collaboration and information sharing
between agencies that could reduce duplication and inconsistencies across
government websites.
The process for
developing an RSS feed is relatively simple and inexpensive.
A blog (a portmanteau
of web log) is a website where entries are commonly displayed in reverse
chronological order
RSS
Aggregator In computing,
a feed aggregator, also known as a feed reader, news reader or simply
as an aggregator, is client software or a Web application which aggregates
syndicated web content such as news headlines, blogs, podcasts, and
vlogs in a single location for easy viewing.
Podcast
A podcast is a
collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet
using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal
computers.
Portmanteau
A portmanteau is
a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings.
RSS
RSS (formally "RDF
Site Summary," known colloquially as "Really Simple Syndication")
is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content
such as blog entries, news headlines or podcasts
XML
The Extensible
Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose markup language. It is classified
as an extensible language because it allows its users to define their
own elements. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of structured
data across different information systems, particularly via the Internet.
If you have questions regarding IMRF benefits,
contact us by email or call 1-800-ASK-IMRF
(1-800-275-4673)
IMRF Online provides
a brief summary of IMRF benefits and the administration of those benefits.
IMRF members' and employers' rights and obligations are governed by Article
7 of the Illinois Pension Code.