INTERNET AND PODCASTING

Today, the Internet has made it easier to do almost every thing online. From publishing a book, to creating audio files. And in all these, when taken serious one can make a lot of money from it. Podcasting is the ability to create and distribute an audio or video programme using the Internet. They mainly come in MP3 MP4, MOV, MPG, WMV, AVI and MPEG, or a similar file format. The producers of Podcasting make their programmes available with RSS feeds. This is a tool that allows listeners to select programmes they wish to download. The internet is the key factor behind most of this new technologies allowing the development of new ideas, without the internet, most of these programmes including social network sites wouldn’t have been possible today.

Does this mean Internet is a great influence behind these programmes? Yes but the main piece of Podcasting setup is the computer. Computer is used through out, from the production of a programme to the distribution. The computer needs some basic things such as microphone for voice recording and then, Internet access for the distribution of the show. One will also need both hardware and software in order to record, edit and publish a Podcast. Some other things that can be needed but not essential are photos, web-cam, video/video enable phone and Blog. One can also create their own RSS feed, this can be important because it alert subscribers when a new file have been posted to a website.


What is the future of programmes such as Podcasting today?
Today, some recognised audio editing program such as Apples Garad Band, Adoe’s Audition or Audacity and many others are open resource program that allow one to receive inputs from microphones, voice recorders, which actually produce most of the shows. VoIP program such as Gizmo Project or Skpe help record shows such as interviews, which includes an integrated recording. Gizmo Project allows conversations to be recorded between the presenter and any telephone in the world. While these few are out there, some other easier programs are still to come. Since anything with voice, photo or video moves so fast in the Internet. With the great awareness of ipod, which was where the name Podcasting was derived in 2004 blending the word (iPod) and (Broadcasting), created awareness. The New Oxford American dictionary named “Podcast” its official “word of the year”. Personal media devices capable of planning audio and video which are built in many phones today, can allow one to view and enjoy Podcasts any where any time. Millions of people use this programme without knowing the name and what is all about. Since much is not required to start a Podcast, and there are some free sites that allows a free sign up, mainly the young generation will be looking up to this programmes.


Podcasting is rapidly representing a new exciting word where things can be easily done without taken days or months but only some few hours. Materials such as course lectures, reports, maps, meetings, research manuscripts, talk shows etc can be recorded as audio and video files and delivered to either subscribing users or targeted audience automatically. One can also take their business, interest or passion and turn it into an interesting audio or video show. Uploading an idea on the web and broadcasting it to the world.

Reference:

Pdodcastingpeople. (2006 – 2009). [online] at http://www.podcastpeople.com/faq
Wikibooks. (2009). [online] (last updated 10 May 2009) at
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Podcasting
Podcastpickel (2009) [online] at http://www.podcastpickle.com/

Wise-women.org (2009) [online] (last updated 23 February 2006) at
http://www.wise-women.org/tutorials/podcast/
The New Oxfor American Dictionary (2005) [online] at
http://www.oup.com/us/brochure/noad/