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Thread: RSS feeds
Number of posts in this thread: 3 (In chronological order)
From: James Pickering
Date: Sun, Jul 24 2005 4:09PM
Subject: RSS feeds
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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/
RSS feed available
XHTML served via content negotiation
From: Jennifer Sutton
Date: Mon, Jul 25 2005 1:24PM
Subject: Re: RSS feeds
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Dear James and others who may be interested:
In case you have not seen these two articles, I thought I'd share the
references to them. See:
How to Make Your Blog Accessible to Blind Readers - American Foundation for
the Blind:
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=4&;TopicID=167&DocumentID=2757
and
Is Blogging Accessible to People with Vision Loss - American Foundation for
the Blind:
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=57&;DocumentID=2753
Personally, I love RSS, and I try to use it as often as possible. As a
screen reader user, I find Bloglines quite comfortable for both reading and
skimming.
Best,
Jennifer
From: James Pickering
Date: Mon, Jul 25 2005 2:41PM
Subject: Re: RSS feeds
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Thank you for those two excellent links, Jennifer, and for your comments
relating to your experiences using RSS and Blogs.
James
James Pickering: http://www.jp29.org/
XHTML served via content-negotiation
RSS feed http://www.jp29.org/index.rdf
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Sutton" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "WebAIM Discussion List" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 12:25 PM
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] RSS feeds
> Dear James and others who may be interested:
>
> In case you have not seen these two articles, I thought I'd share the
> references to them. See:
>
> How to Make Your Blog Accessible to Blind Readers - American Foundation
> for the Blind:
> http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=4&;TopicID=167&DocumentID=2757
>
> and
>
> Is Blogging Accessible to People with Vision Loss - American Foundation
> for the Blind:
> http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=57&;DocumentID=2753
>
> Personally, I love RSS, and I try to use it as often as possible. As a
> screen reader user, I find Bloglines quite comfortable for both reading
> and skimming.
>
> Best,
> Jennifer
>
>
>
>
>