Alert mechanisms – email alerts and RSS Feeds

Description:
One-way communication alerts to inform people of a news item or an event, e.g. email Alerts and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds. This saves the users from having to check manually their favourite websites or their news reader for updates.

eParticipation areas:

• Information Provision

Stage policy cycle: Relevant to all stages where stakeholders need to be informed about policy issues.


Specials:
Users will need to sign up or be subscribed to the alert mechanism; therefore privacy of information needs to be considered. There should be facilities where users can unsubscribe and also change their profiles. The web site owner then has the responsibility for sending the relevant emails. When a new entry is added to a website the RSS feed will typically save its title, a short abstract and link to the full content.


Channel:
RSS Feeds only on PCs, alters can reach mobile phones by eMail or SMS

Technology:

• Web 2.0
• Web application

Evaluation:
Number of subscriptions.

Additions:
email alert example: www.parliament.uk RSS alert example: www.bristol-city.gov.uk/item/epetition.html http://www.rssgov.com/ Free rss service: http://www.bloglines.com/