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From: James Pickering
Date: Jul 24, 2005 4:09PM

RSS feeds are becoming very popular on Web sites these days. By employing an RSS Reader/Aggregator (quick downloads and often free) users can quickly and easily keep up to date with changes and additions to Web sites or pages of their choice. RSS feeds to which they subscribe (free) are usually delivered via a pop-window on the systray (often with sound alert) whenever an update or change is registered.

Some Web page owners are leary of RSS feeds because they feel that visitors will skip pages on their sites that contain important (to the page owners) information if they only visit pages targeted by RSS feed alerts -- indeed sometimes an RSS feed will only consist of a text message summarizing a minor change. However, experience seems to show that, on balance, RSS feeds increase Web site visitation.

I am interested in the accessibilty ramifications of RSS feeds. Being pointed to specific pages - thereby avoiding navigating through link rich portal pages -- by an RSS feed might be a good thing. Brief summaries of changes and additions delivered "on the fly" might be a useful feature for some users with disabilities. There may be other benefits I have not thought of. There may be inherent accessibility problems with RSS such as the pop-up windows for automatic RSS feed notification or with the function of the Readers/Aggregators. I solicit any and all input on this.

I have installed an RSS feed on my Web site along with explanatory information. It may be viewed via the URL link in my signature block below.

Here are a couple of informational links -- I am sure others will add better ones:

Using and generating RSS feeds:
http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2002/12/18/dive-into-xml.html
http://www.mnot.net/rss/tutorial/

RSS Readers/Aggregators:
http://blogspace.com/rss/readers

James Pickering: http://www.jp29.org/
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