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The Early Bird Gets the PodcastBy Erik Linask Associate Editor Most people think they are in tune with the latest technology — but the truth is that many are not. The latest quick poll conducted by the Dallas chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (Dallas/IABC) shows that while many the majority of people may know what podcasting is, most have not made use if it.
The quick poll, which, during four weeks beginning in mid-March, asked more than 300 “communicators” about their podcasting habits, found that, though only 23% of the 109 respondents have listened or subscribed to a podcast, another 61% knew what podcasting is but have not listened to one. Only 8% said their company has published a podcast, and a surprising 8% asked, “What’s a podcast?” “This clearly shows that podcasting remains a communications tool for early adopters,” said Roy Miller, president of Dallas/IABC.
Podcasting — from the combining of “iPod” and “broadcasting” — is the method of distributing multimedia files via the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers using either RSS or Atom syndication formats. The theory behind podcasting is to create content for today’s mobile audience to watch or listen to when, where, and how they want.
Subscribing to podcasts, unlike streaming media, allows the audience to collect programs for listening or viewing either online or offline through a portable device.
Think of it a multimedia version of a desktop news aggregator, through which a user can subscribe to any number of feeds and then view the information later — either online or offline.
Podcasting, instead of letting the user read content, lets him listen to content, often on a portable device, like an iPod. Though the number of available programs is fairly limited still, it is a growing medium that is sure to endear itself to users as quickly as mp3 players did.
Before long, it is likely that radio shows across the nation will provide podcasts of their daily broadcasts, from NPR’s All Things Considered to ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. By then, the percentage of people subscribing to podcasts will surely have multiplied.
Erik Linask is Associate Editor of INTERNET TELEPHONY. Most recently, he was Managing Editor at Global Custodian, an international securities services publication. To see more of his articles, please visit Erik Linask’s columnist page.
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