Podcasting is a new blog-casting technology, which is a portmanteau, derived from “pod�? (iPod) and “casting�? (broadcasting). This can be misleading as no broadcasting is involved and it does not require an iPod portable player to download. Podcasting is a subscription based device which feeds both audio and visual content to its user on the internet.
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One of Podcasting’s first pioneers was Adam Curry, an American MTV presenter who first made podcasting a bigger phenomenon in September, 2004. From then till currently the new media technology has grown, with the number of hits for it on Google reaching 80 million in the month of October, 2005 (wikipedia.com). The largest introduction of podcast’s on the internet was when in July, 2005, iTunes through its internet store, offered a free download of the software and also a search database which helped spawn a new medium to the masses.
This technology can be downloaded by any internet user and independent producers are able to make their content available on search engines. This may include radio format or the newly introduced video format (video-casting).
Bullis (2005, 30) equates the rise in podcasting’s popularity to a few factors. The first is broadband access which helps with the speed of downloading large podcasts and files. It is also easy to access podcasts and making podcasts has been simplified. It is also due to the popularity of digital music players and iPods which let the podcast act as a type of radio program on the go.
On the internet there are several portals which include podcast.net, ipodder.org, podcastalley.com, podcastnetwork.com and iTunes – Podcasting.
Various issues on the content of Podcasting and video-casting have been raised through their induction on the internet. Users are able to use music on their podcast if they have been given consent from the artist. This has lead to pod-safe sights where musicians are able to upload their content for use on home-made podcasts.
Regulation of content within a podcast does not occur on some Podcasting directories. This has lead to issues on strong language and visual abuse on content which is regularly searched by kids.
Podcasting has unlimited choices when it comes to content. Some popular genres so far are godcasts (religious sermons), university lectures, music and hobby shoes. There has even been a podcast from space on the Discovery Mission.
Wikipedia.com – Podcasting
Bullis, K. (2005) “Podcasting takes off,�? Technology Review, vol.108, Iss.10, p.30
Bronwyn Hooton 00:00, 28 Oct 2005 (EST)
