What is PodCasting?

For Personalised Learning and Entertainment

The term “podcasting.” was selected by the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary as the Word of the Year for 2005. But what exactly is it?

Definitions of PodCasting on the Web:

According to, en.wikipedia.org/wiki the definitions for PodCasting, PodCast, PodCaster are as follows:

• A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication.
• The distribution of multimedia files over the Internet for playback on a mobile device, often in MP3 format.
• Podcast – An audio programme in a compressed digital format, delivered via an RSS feed over the Internet to a subscriber and designed for playback on computers or portable digital audio players, such as the iPod; To deliver (audio) via an RSS feed over the internet to a subscriber.
• Podcaster – One who Podcasts.

Publishing Audio / Video Files

In its simplest terms, podcasting is a method of publishing audio and video files to the Internet, which can then be automatically downloaded to a computer, iPod, MP3 player or other portable media device.

The term podcasting is often used to refer to one off audio broadcasts that can be downloaded from the Internet although this is not, strictly speaking, a true podcast which should be a ‘series’ of broadcasts.

For those who love listening to radio or internet audio programming, but can’t always find the time to listen to their favourite shows at the scheduled time, podcasting is the solution. It allows you to listen to your favourite content, at your convenience.

RSS Feeds Provide Information

Technically, podcasting is best accomplished using RSS feeds to provide information about a collection of audio files in MP3 format.

This medium lets anybody with a microphone and, if video is required, a webcam; a computer and an Internet connection to publish multimedia broadcasts that can be listened to by people anywhere in the world. Because the barriers to entry are very low, podcasting is rapidly becoming a popular way for people to share audio broadcasts. Podcasts are free and audio Podcasts can be automatically downloaded to portable media players, so they can be listened to whenever it’s convenient.

Edison Research Study

A study produced by Edison Research in May 2009 provides some excellent insights into podcasting:

• Awareness of podcasting grew from 37% of Americans to 43%
• Podcast listeners are extensive social network users.
• A quarter of Americans downloaded and watched/listened to an audio or video podcast.
• The number one reason given for podcast consumption was the ability to consume content whenever the consumer desires.
• Podcast consumers continue to be attractive advertising targets; yet are increasingly unreachable through traditional, interrupt advertising.
• Podcast listeners are a highly educated and affluent
• Podcast consumers spend more than 7hrs per week on line.
• Age 18 to 44 male listeners tends to be the major consumer demographic.
• 27 million Americans listen to podcasts because of the convenience.

Find An Online Audience

Anyone can create a podcast and, regardless of the topic, find an online audience that shares the same interest and will subscribe to the feed, or “show,” to automatically receive new episodes. But podcasting is more than having this 15 minutes of fame.

• Educators are using podcasts to interact with their students.
• Terrestrial radio is using it to regain listeners.

It’s even changing the way media covers and distributes news and entertainment, advertisers target pitches at consumers and companies design and sell their products and services.

Podcasting In Educational

Podcasting can be used by both teachers and pupils and is attracting significant interest from all educational sectors.

• It is a fast, convenient, and low cost way to extend lessons both within and beyond the classroom.

From simply recording existing lessons to developing new and extended course material, teachers and pupils alike can take advantage of the many benefits of downloadable content contained in educational podcasts. Using podcasting as part of a child’s daily educational routine has many potential advantages.

Conclusion

For a technology still in its infancy, the future certainly looks bright for podcasting. It has already evolved beyond simple time-shifting of Internet audio into the new medium for creating, finding and sharing content created by individuals for individuals in this growing content on demand World.

Well, I hope you found something useful and enjoyed this article, please don’t forget to let me have your thoughts in the comment box below. See you soon.