Wednesday, 20th September 2006

Getting the Info to the End User: Ask.com's RSS Smart Answers Continue, Not Only Blogs

A few weeks ago we posted about the launch of Ask.com's new RSS Smart Answer program. Since this is an Ask.com post. We will continue our policy and after clicking the "read more" link you can read the update.

Although RSS is very popular in some circles, it's not in others. So, Ask not only wants to help promote RSS (Ask also owns Bloglines) but also get the information the searcher might find useful ON a Web Results page. That's the area where most people go. Smart Answers run the gamut from what "ready reference shelves" about people to issues to events.

A couple of months ago, we began RSS Smart Answers. The idea is to take syndicated content (most often RSS) and if trigger words (they can be quickly and easily changed to better meet users needs) are indicated in the query, the very top of the results page includes the syndicated content. Don't forget this is in ADDITION to the "regular" or "organic" results users will are used to.

What follows is a sample (not comprehensive) of several RSS Smart Answers that have been added since Ask began to roll-out the product. More new material each week and again, this is just a small sample. Finally, as you'll see, it's not only blogs but other forms of syndicated material. Also, we're just giving you one trigger word or phrase. There are other ways to trigger many of these. Much more to come not only in terms of content but how we can use this material. Stay tuned.

Examples:
+ Hurricane Advisories
This is a combo. First, the latest via the National Hurricane Center feed from Miami (RSS Smart Answer) and then our ready reference shelf of hurricane and tropical storm resources (Smart Answer).

+ eBooks
Again a combo. First, some of the MANY new full text (and free books) added to the Online Books Page and then info (in Smart Answer form) about the upcoming World eBook Fair.

+ Phishing Scams
This database, where the feed comes from, is suggested by the Anti-Phishing Working Group

+ National Statistics Online
The latest statistical releases from the UK's National Statistics Office

+ Steven Bell
Latest from The Kept-Up Academic Librarian

+ Library Journal

+ ALA

+ Domain Names
What's up at ICANN

+ Digital Library for Earth Science Education">Digital Libraries for Earth Science Education
New entries in the database.

+ LII
What's new this week.

+ FDA Recalls
The latest from the FDA. It has not been a good week for Popeye.

+ The Latest Maps from ReliefWeb International

+ New Science Books
In this case, we're using the National Academies Press of new full text (and free) releases.

+ Peter Suber
The latest from Suber's essential Open Access News.

+ DLIST
Latest entries into this info science and tech open access archive.

+ Computer Vulnerabilities

+ Consumer Product Recalls

+ e-Media Tidbits
A well-known site for journalists.

Category:

• Source File (ResourceShelf)

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