What is RSS* and what does it do for me?
RSS is an XML-based web standard by which new messages published on all sorts of websites may be easily collected and read into an RSS reader. See http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS

RSS feeds may be used also:

• to view tables of contents of new journal issues
• to be alerted on new journal articles on specific subjects 
• to identify new patents on technical topics
• to monitor news items on broad subject fields, e.g. health, innovation, science and technology on various news sites

What do I need to read RSS feeds?
An RSS reader, or a modern browser with integrated RSS reader. What type of RSS reader you select depends firstly on what platform you use (Windows, Linux, Unix). Secondly, what counts is whether you always read messages on the same computer (desktop) or prefer to be independent from a single location (web-based). Finally, your choice will depend on which fancy options are provided, either for free or payed. See this overview of RSS readers

Free and simple RSS readers for Windows are for example:

• Feedreader (desktop)
• Bloglines (web-based)

Browsers with integrated RSS reader
Modern browsers as Internet Explorer 7, Firefox and Opera include integrated RSS readers, identified by the orange icon in the browser bar. The icon is shown as soon as you move to a web page with active RSS content. By clicking it you can read recent items and subscribe to the feed if you so choose. By checking your feeds regularly you can keep up with new developments without having to visit a large number of sites.