Government is already rife with chiefs, why not one more? HighBeam Research, Inc. has set the pace by announcing today the appointment of Christopher Locke as Chief Blogging Officer (CBO). Looks like the role of CBO is a pace setter who creates a buzz about the company products and enlists others to blog the cause. Ironically, the announcement came in the form of a (oh, so 20th century) press release.

HighBeam is looking for bloggers interested in exclusive use of its new "blog this document" tools and free access to the company's premium archives of over 3,000 print publications for adding depth and historical background to virtually any subject. HighBeam, under the direction of Chairman and CEO Patrick Spain, is the recent amalgamation two paid content sites (eLibrary and Encyclopedia.com) and a meta-search site, Researchville.com.

Locke says, "The HighBeam database of 33 million articles going back almost 25 years is the best resource I've found for adding historical depth of focus to the sort of stuff I write about. Any blogger who wants to get at the trends and issues underlying today's headlines will immediately see the same benefit I did. And their readers will too. I'm turned on at the prospect of making the HighBeam Research content and tools more accessible to the blogging world."

I don't think Highbeam will need to look too far for volunteers. Chris' own Chief Blogging Officer blog, offers a preview of how you can turn your own ordinary blog musings into a Blogipedia.

According to ClickZ News, HighBeam plans to begin offering its new blog content tool in late January or early February for $19.95 a month or $99 a year.

With the proliferation of RSS feeds in state and local governments, a unique opportunity is developing to expand the delivery of the critical information contained in these feeds by leveraging the most ubiquitous personal communications device in the world -– the telephone. Governments that use RSS to deliver information to citizens using RSS feeds can also leverage VoiceXML, an open standard for developing telephony applications, to expose RSS content via cellular and traditional telephones.

VoiceXML is a web technology that can turn any telephone, even a rotary phone, into an Internet device. VoiceXML is a non-proprietary, web-based markup language for creating vocal dialogues between humans and computers. VoiceXML is similar to another common markup language -- HTML, the basic language of visual web pages. Just as a web browser renders HTML documents visually, a VoiceXML interpreter renders VoiceXML documents audibly. In this respect, one can think of the VoiceXML interpreter as a telephone-based, voice browser. As with HTML documents, VoiceXML documents have web URIs and can be located on any web server. However, instead of pointing a client-side web browser at a specific URI, citizens can access a VoiceXML application by calling a toll free telephone number from any ordinary telephone - cellular or traditional, touch-tone or rotary.

It’s not hard to think of a scenario where a local government or a university could publish an RSS feed with topical news, and have a phone number for students or citizens to call for more information. Depending on how the VoiceXML is structured, the caller could have the option of being transferred directly to the number associated with the information.

The trick would be, in my opinion, finding the right place within the RSS feed to put the phone number (if the publisher wanted to provide the option of an automatic transfer). Ideally, the phone number would be contained within its own RSS element. Glancing quickly at the RSS 2.0 spec, this could be something like the guid element. So, if a publisher was using a software package to author and publish RSS feeds, they would probably need to do a little experimenting to find the right place to place the phone number.

Because RSS and VoiceXML are both XML vocabularies, there are a number of standards-based methods for converting RSS to VoiceXML and using RSS feeds from within VoiceXML applications. The first method involves the use of eXstensible Style Sheet Language Transformations (XSLT). I have created a tutorial covering this technique and some of the issues relating to it. This technique is generally agnostic to the underlying technology used; XSLT transformations are supported in technologies like JSP, PHP, Perl, .NET and others.

To see it in action there is a demo application available at (800) 289-5570. Enter the following PIN when prompted: 9991422919. This example uses the latest headlines news feed from CNET News.com (news.com.com) and the XSLT file covered in my tutorial. This is only running on a demo platform, so I can’t guarantee anything on performance. Still, it gives you a sense of how an RSS feed sounds. This technology could allow travelers only equipped with cell phones to get the latest NOAA RSS weather reports, lobbyists to dial-in for legislative floor calendars, and rescue teams to phone for the latest operational instructions.

The other method for using RSS from within VoiceXML applications is to leverage the new data tag, an addition to the VoiceXML specification that is part of the developing VoiceXML 2.1 standard. Some excellent examples of this technique can be found on the VoiceXML Forum website at http://www.voicexmlreview.org/apr2004/columns/apr2004_speak_listen.html.

VoiceXML also allows for the playback of recorded audio. If one had an audio file that they want to include in a feed, a VoiceXML application could actually invoke the audio file and play it to the caller. There is a VoiceXML service at (800) 555-TELL that plays audio files. Give it a call and try listening to the “News Center” option.

One caveat -- most VoiceXML platforms only support certain audio formats, but the more common ones (WAV, MP3) are usually supported. VoiceXML also supports recording the audio of a call, so if one wanted to let callers post comments the application could record their audio and save it for later playback. There is actually a project called “Phone Blogger” that takes this approach (see www.wombatnation.com/phoneblogger).

By using these techniques, governments that make information available to citizens through RSS feeds can dramatically expand the accessibility of these feeds by making them available to anyone with a telephone.

Mark J. Headd
Voice Technologies for Government
www.voiceingov.org
mheadd@voiceingov.org





[Editor's note: Commenting is turned off because of spamming. Mark is interested in hearing from readers who are interested in how that can use VoiceXML to augment what they are doing with RSS. Please email the author with your comments and we'll invite him to write a follow-up here at RSS in Government addressing your ideas and suggestions.]

The State of Virginia was recently recognized by the Center for Digital Government with a third place ranking in the Best of the Web and Digital Government Achievement Awards. The recognition came largely for Virginia's new syndication and alert services. In accepting the award Governor Mark Warner said, "Our real-time online live help customer service continues to set the pace for the nation, and the portal's desktop alerts via live RSS feeds ensure that Virginia.gov users always have access to the most current information." The VIPNet portal and its RSS feeds are managed by the Virginia Information Providers Network. There are currently at least 34 feeds. Virginia uses RSS feeds not only for alerts, but also as a monitoring service that keeps citizens informed of new resources and services added to the portal.

If you want to build mobile applications with use of extensive HTML5 then DHTMLX Touch is a JavaScript library mobile framework that can help you achieve this. So next time when you plan to develop a HTML based mobile web app then do not forget to consider this free open source DHTMLX Touch JavaScript framework …

DHTMLX Touch – Best Mobile Framework for all Touch Screen Devices Read More »

SHARGE has introduced the ICEMAG 2 MagSafe power bank (soon available here). It includes a new active cooling system (a fan) and an aluminum backplate to support effective heat management and maintain charging performance. It supports 15W Qi2 wireless charging, aimed at delivering faster speeds compared to traditional MagSafe batteries and improving on the previous ICEMAG model. Visually, the ICEMAG 2 features a transparent design with RGB lighting for added aesthetic appeal. The power bank also includes a foldable kickstand, allowing for hands-free use and adjustable viewing angles. In terms of functionality, the ICEMAG 2 offers 30W two-way USB-C charging,… [Continue Reading]

Logitech has introduced a range of Sync smart office tools designed to improve workplace efficiency and provide enhanced analytics for IT teams. The new suite includes Auto Book and Auto Release, which automate room reservations and cancellations based on user activity. Additionally, Logitech View offers interactive digital office maps to assist with navigation in large office spaces. Henry Levak, VP of Product at Logitech for Business, highlighted the AI capabilities of the tools, stating, “Rally Bars use AI in-camera sensors to automatically detect and respond to natural workplace behaviors with no human intervention needed.” This approach aims to simplify room… [Continue Reading]

In today’s world, journaling has become an essential daily routine for many people. It’s a great way...

In today’s world, journaling has become an essential daily routine for many people. It’s a great way...

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Google's John Mueller posted some SEO advice on how to handle version history pages, for product releases, specifications, APIs and other version history. This advice is pretty similar to how to handle recurring event pages, like conferences and events. In short, the main page should keep the same URL and then archive the older version history details on an archive page URL.

John wrote on LinkedIn, "If you work on a website with versions (APIs? Specs?) or yearly editions, here's the top SEO improvement you can do: Use a stable URL for the current version."

I mean, if you like at Google Ads API, they use developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/release-notes and show the current version details there and then archive the older API versions on different URLs, like version 17 for example.

John wrote:

Add versioned directories if you like. This makes the current version much more visible in search, reducing guesswork by readers, and making it easier to link to. EASIER TO LINK TO.

Even better? keep the versioned URL for the current version, and use link-rel-canonical to refer to the stable URL. This lets people go directly to the versioned URL if they know it, while focusing search on the stable URL.

John added to explain, for API docs, technical specs, yearly events, etc, go with this format:

• .../spec/live/page < do this for SEO
• .../spec/2.1/page - rel=canonical to /spec/live/page
• .../spec/2.0/page - keep these

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

Vinny DelGiudice first dove into blogging to pass the time when he moved to Nevada by himself just out of grad school. Although that blog never really took off, he did learn a lot from the process. A few years…

The post How Vinny DelGiudice Grew His Italian-American Food Blog to +100k Page Views a Month appeared first on Niche Pursuits.

Discover actionable digital marketing strategies tailored for the moving and logistics industry in 2024.

The post Expert Advice for Moving & Logistics Brands in 2024 appeared first on Portent.

In terms of top-grossing Wednesday openers, the month of April has never been a super place to launch a movie. That is, until now with The Super Mario Bros Movie. 

Fr. Stephen looks at creation and its "voice" as described in Old and New Testament and sees what it means for our realtionship with the world around us.

Our culture champions our ability to choose. Fr. Stephen suggests that choices are not quite as central in our lives as we imagine.

A meditation on the words of Elder Sophrony, "Our lives are an endless martyrdom," gives rise to thoughts on the true character of the liturgy.

Fr. Stephen considers what it means to be a "convert" to the Orthodox faith within the context of modern American culture.

The desire for justice is infinite - because such a desire is one of the passions. Fr. Stephen looks at the problems created by wrong thinking on the topic of justice.

Fr. Stephen looks at the nature of envy and its deep connections with ideas of justice.

With this podcast, Fr. Stephen begins a series in which he looks at the reality of shame and its place in our emotional and spiritual lives. He introduces us to the teaching of the Elder Sophrony that we must learn to "bear a little shame."

Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the meaning of Worship, as understood in the Scriptures and the Tradition, connecting it with the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament, and Christ's sacrifice on the Cross in the New.

Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the story of Abraham and the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah as a means of understanding our prayers for the world.

Access Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, along with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage, for 42% off -- the lowest price we've seen.

This deal gets you a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows or Mac and access to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for 88% off.

Code faster and work smarter with a Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 license, now on sale for 94% off.

In which we discuss 4 practices or strategies for developing your own Orthodox Christian Sabbath. This is the FINAL episode in the Time for Sabbath series. Thank you for joining in on the quest for rest! We’ll be kicking off a new miniseries in November, Lord willing - listen to the end of this episode to find out more details. Connect with Nicole on Instagram or Twitter (@NicoleRoccas). Email her at timeeternal@ancientfaith.com Mentioned in this episode: Upcoming Ancient Faith Webinar: “Remembering All These Things: Holding Space for Trauma in Liturgy and Life” (https://store.ancientfaith.com/remembering-all-these-things/) Joshua Mackoul’s book _Healing Your Wounded Soul_ (https://store.ancientfaith.com/healing-your-wounded-soul-growing-from-pain-to-peace/) Psalm 92/91 - A Psalm for Sabbath Lots of books about death! Orthodox titles: Fr. Alexander Schmemann The Liturgy of Death Hierotheos (Vlachos) Nafpaktos, Life after Death Mark and Elizabeth Barna, A Christian Ending Jean-Claude Larchet, Life After Death According to the Orthodox Tradition O Death, Where is Thy Sting? Alexander Schmemann The Letters of St Ignatius of Antioch (Popular Patristics Series), SVS (Brand new) Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death, Andrew Stephen Damick Non-Orthodox titles: A Grief Observed, CS Lewis When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi Modern Death: How Medicine Changed the End of Life, Helen Warraich The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, Thomas Lynch Being Mortal, Atul Gawande The outro of this podcast is the song "Remedy for Melancholy" by Kai Engel, available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

How can a Supreme Court Chief Justice simultaneously fulfill his oath to uphold the law, honor his deeply held Christian beliefs, and achieve his commitment to improve the world? Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, The Honorable Harold D. Melton, will talk with Bill Marianes about his path to living his calling and his faith. He will provide unique insights on serving our calling while achieving excellence in our chosen vocation.

Leadership is a critical difference between the most effective and healthy Orthodox Christian parishes and ministries, and those not fulfilling their potential. If you’re a parish council member or ministry leader, join Bill to learn about the 6 Elements of the Stewardship Calling Orthodox Servant Leadership Model and how to apply them so your parish can fulfill its responsibilities and calling.

Frederica returns to the Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mt. Pleasant South Carolina to talk with the pastor, Fr. John Parker. Fr. John has demonstrated that you can effectively engage your local community on matters of faith.

Frederica reviews Tim Burton's film Alice in Wonderland, a movie that she says is too frenetic and ludicrous to be enjoyed.

Frederica speaks on the abortion issue at the Festival of Orthodox Christianity, hosted by North Texas Orthodox Missions in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Frederica reflects on giving to the needy, countering the cultural beliefs that the poor have nothing to offer, that it is okay to be consumers and not producers, that we must despise the wealthy, and that charity must go through an established organization.

This past May 6-7, Frederica spoke to a group of Romanian Orthodox Christians in Brussels about Fr. George Calciu.

Frederica Mathewes-Green reads the first essay she ever published, a secular, feminist presentation of the pro-life cause.

In our efforts to spread the Faith, sometimes we fail; if we die, we bear more fruit! Fr. Joseph speaks at St Nicholas Church, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Fr. Joseph, speaking at Holy Cross/Palmdale, California, relates a story from "We Came, We Saw, We Converted" of Galina and St. Xenia (including the Publican, and the Pharisee).

First of all, this is not a film about abortion -- what is it about?" Fr Joseph interviews Dn Adam Roberts about the new documentary, "In the Name of Choice." [Available @ inthenameofchoice.com]

Fr. John shares from Matthew 13:44-52.

Fr. John Whiteford tells about St. Mitrophan, the first Chinese priest and martyr of the Boxer Rebellion, and encourages us to stand firm in the Faith.

Fr. John Whiteford speaks on Zephaniah 3:14-20. The victory has been won!

Fr. John Whiteford calls us to a lifestyle of thanksgiving to God. (Psalm 94)