What is Podcasting

Technology, especially where it applies to the Internet, is great for coming up with new terms that are often in a constant state of evolution … like “podcasting"? The term "podcasting" is used by many people in many different contexts.

Last year, according to Wikipedia the New Oxford American Dictionary named “podcasting"? the word of the year, defining it as “a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player.? The Wikipedia article on podcasting notes that a “subscription feed of automatically delivered new content is what distinguishes a podcast from a simple download or real-time streaming.?

What does all that mean?
Basically it means you can download audio and video files (or any file, for that matter) from the Internet and listen or watch it on your own computer or, more to the point, your iPod or other portable device. The word is a combination of iPod and broadcasting, although you don’t necessarily need an iPod and it isn’t broadcasting. (Broadcasting implies a certain time element, meaning a show, for example, is “aired"? at a certain time whereas with podcasts you can access them and run them at anytime once they’ve been made available online.) If podcasting has become exciting it is largely because it means you have the ability to download a podcast and listen or view it anytime on your portable device, like an iPod or cell phone. It’s that compact portability combined with the idea of “anytime, anywhere? that has caused the excitement.

As technology continues to evolve, more and more devices will have these capabilities so a growing number of people can and will use them.

The other element that makes podcasting exciting is how easy it is for almost anyone to create their own podcasts (assuming they have the tech tools required – like a microphone or a camera they can use with their computer).

The Internet is now filled with podcasts created by large corporations (like television networks) and, from the comfort of their own homes, individuals. As with blogs, this is both good (everyone can have a voice) and bad (there are a lot of things that leave a good deal to be desired). As with anything, you need to exercise caution with where you go and what you download. Virus’ can be hidden in podcasts just the same as other files. There are many sites that carry podcasts, some more reputable than others. iTunes is a good site, although it is a “payment required? for most items site. File sharing sites like “kazaa"? are riskier and should only be used if you have an up-to-date antivirus program and run your anti- spyware programs regularly. Keep in mind that the “free"? sites are getting their money somehow.

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