Day: March 18, 2004

Yet another TiVo lovefest, from the NYTimes. I’m a believer, but this kind of fawning article makes me wonder. We’re still only on the first generation, really, of this kind of technology. Think how bad TV must have gotten to make people appreciate their TiVos this much!?!

Vin Crosbie, who is fearless about his public prognostications, reminds fans of RSS that it’s not the solution to all the problems of publishers.

Today’s RSS is merely another method of pushing whatever content the publisher (be that a newspaper publisher or a blogger) wants, when instead the real solution is to give whatever the user wants.

I would concur, but RSS is not a technology. It’s an embodiment of the true separation of content from presentation. That separation is incredibly enabling. I believe it accelerates the personal aggregation of information in ways that portals and personalization engines (and aggregators/newsreaders) are only beginning to explore. Today, as Vin cites, most publishers (broadly) are pushing out categories of information without concern for individual audiences. But the next step, where those categories of information are honed and shaped by the individual to suit their needs, is already starting. The mix between what individuals want packaged for them and what they want to choose for themselves is yet to be determined. RSS as a phenomenon isn’t taking sides, and it’s early in this next phase. All of a sudden, more building blocks are available, of different shapes, colors, and sizes. The resulting constructions will vary in their suitability, but we’re leaving Levittown, at least for long enough to see what other kinds of ‘house’ we might like for our personal information needs.

I know I want a big basement and a big attic, but I’m a pack rat. What do you want?

I might have a reason to read this document, and — who knows — try and apply some of its knowledge at work. I won’t pretend to be excited. “Vocabulary Mapping for Terminology Services” isn’t on any bestseller lists I’ve seen.