|
History
Origin of podcasting
By 2003, a number of blogs already published audio online, and the RSS file format was widely used for summarizing or syndicating content. Using
RSS, former NPR host Christopher Lydon attached audio files to his weblog. Lydon's full-length interviews, which focused on blogging and coverage of the 2004 U.S. presidental campaigns, helped to inspire Adam Curry's iPodder script. Indeed, blogs would become an important factor in the popularization of
podcasting.
Origin of the word
One of the first uses of the term "podcasting" was in an article in The Guardian [1]
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1145689,00.html) on February 12, 2004, though it didn't detail the RSS file format or automatic synchronization. In September of that year, Dannie Gregoire used the term to describe the automatic download and synchronization idea that Adam Curry had developed [2]
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ipodder-dev/message/41). Gregoire had also registered multiple domain names associated with
podcasting. That usage was discovered and reported on by Curry and Dave Slusher of the Evil Genius Chronicles website.
Unique attributes
Differences from traditional broadcasting
Unlike radio or streaming media, podcasts are time-shifted, meaning that listeners have control over when they hear the recording similar to a VCR playing back a pre-recorded TV show. Using a portable player, such as the iPod or a cell phone, podcasts are instantly available and can be listened to progressively while tending to other matters, therefore educating a busy listener at no time expense.
From the producer's perspective, podcasts cannot have live participation or immediately reach large audiences as quickly as radio can. However, podcasting allows individuals to easily transmit content worldwide without the need for expensive equipment or licenses, and is frequently used together with an online interactive bulletin board or
blog.
Differences from other forms of online audio
Podcasting differs from broadcasting and webcasting in the way that content is transmitted. Instead of a central audio stream, listeners download audio files remotely and automatically. Podcasts can also include metadata such as dates, titles, and descriptions. Podcasting differs from autocasting in terms of content; podcasts are generally voice broadcasts while autocasting is a speech-synthesized version of regular text
blogs. Audioblogs can be easily made into podcasts if they add support for RSS to facilitate automatic retrieval.
The Apple i-pod Perfect for Pod Cast - Listening . . .
|
