RSS: Far Beyond Feed Reading

Earlier this week we highlighted some ways people use RSS in their daily lives. Today we’re looking at work-related problems users have solved with the technology.

One of the most interesting (and heartwarming, for those of us past a certain age) responses came from Chuck Gose, internal communications manager for engine manufacturer Rolls Royce. “In the corporate communications world, many just associate RSS with communicating to those with ready computer access or the ‘hipster’ techno-savvy types. But what about using RSS to reach a shop floor workforce whose average age is in the 40s and who do not have ready access to computers in a facility that was build to support World War II?"

“That's exactly what we use RSS for at Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis. Our cellular-based digital signage system, created by MediaTile, uses RSS feeds to keep our shop floor workforce up to date with company news and information,” Gose wrote. “The ticker at the bottom of our digital signage screens (spread throughout the site in break rooms and cafeterias) is created by a series of RSS feeds, keeping our messaging up to date and consistently refreshed.”

We also came across this from Danny Chamberlin, who averted an office virus crisis by using his FeedDemon account. “A couple of years ago I worked for a small company with two offices in two different states. My office was mission-critical - if our office was down for ANY reason, the company lost a lot of money. In August of 2005, the Zotob worm started terrorizing the internet, infecting systems at companies like ABC, CNN, Caterpillar and others.

“Hearing about all these Fortune 100 companies being hit, my boss started panicking and sent me a copy of one of the AP articles about the critter with a frantic note inquiring about our office's status. Thanks to RSS, I was able to pick up the phone and tell him to relax.

"As part of my job as the lone IT guy, I used FeedDemon and subscribed to several security/virus report feeds. When the first reports of this vulnerability came out on these feeds -- almost a week before the worm hit -- I immediately updated our virus scanners, patched all the affected servers and workstations in the office and sent out a note to the office employees reinforcing the hazards of opening strange attachments. My office weathered the storm without a hitch -- no downtime, no money lost. After I calmed my boss down, he was so pleased he treated me to a nice lunch and gave me the rest of the day off.”

Thanks to Charles and Danny for their comments, and they each receive a NewsGator product of their choice.