Friday, July 15, 2005

Feed me, see more

Publishing notifications via feeds has become ever more popular, and it's finally starting to become really practical. Bloglines, the most popular web-based feed aggregator, recently introduced package tracking for UPS, FedEx and USPS. But what blew me away is seeing RSS integrated into the redesign of my local public library's website.
    It looks like RSS has finally hit the big-time. Now I can get notifications on overdue books. I've been checking out CDs and DVDs from the library; now I can even subscribe to feeds about the library's latest CD and DVD acquisitions. Handy dandy. Generally, we're taken by how the interweb connects us with people thousands of miles away, but this is a great example of technology that ties us more closely to the community in which we already live. That's pretty nifty. Kudos to the Ann Arbor District Library and their web team.
    So, what's next? RSS notifications to let you know it's time to pick up the dry cleaning, take your car in for an oil change, get a refill on your asthma medication...What else?