Podcasting, the future of radio?

As technology is constantly advancing, the older generation of technology is slowly being forgotten about, examples include VHS, CD players and CRT televisions.

We aren't specifically just throwing the technology away, but rather stepping over that level and further increasing its maximum capabilities even if that means discarding the original technology and creating new ones.

A good example of this is the technology called Podcasts, It was introduced a while after modern radios (around the fall 2004 the name podcasting was first mentioned). 
The word podcast comes from a mixture of acronyms mainly Playable On Demand and Broadcasting. Its main purpose is store audio on a digital format (MP3, AAC) ready to be downloaded onto portable devices such as MP3 Players, IPods and mobile phones. Users don't have to obtain each and individual file as this happens automatically through subscriptions on RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds.

Since Podcasts can be obtained anytime, they have a stronger potential to suit today’s audience than standard radio, it may not necessarily be better in quality, but overall it is seen to be more efficient, very simple to use and to obtain. Podcasts also have other advantages over radio such as:

• Unique news which may never get the chance to be on radio (not popular/important enough for normal radio)
• Complete control on playback (whenever, wherever, no set schedules)
• No signal interference (no broadcasting, just digital audio files)
• Low production cost
• True thoughts (no restrictions on views or censorship which could also be bad)
• Very portable
• Helps promote and start new businesses
• Unlimited subscriptions
• less advertising

Despite this it still has some disadvantages when being compared to radio, many of which may deter a user from progressing onto the new technology, examples include:

• Requires an internet connection and self search for content for the first time
• Risk of viruses (audio must be downloaded)
• May contain inappropriate content (swearing)
• May be unprofessional (100% user/audience generated content)
• Some podcasts cost money
• More effort than simply switching on the radio
• No longer the classic radio feeling

From my own personal views, I do like the sound of podcasting as I would be able to find everything and every genre which would suit me making it a new personal experience. However I still like the idea of radio as I sometimes use it as background noise when I’m doing something else. Also with radio I don't have to make the to listen to everything and can sometimes find new subjects which interest me. Since I have an IPod I would much rather listen to music the majority of the time than to listen to somebody else talk about subjects which may bore me depending on their skills.

Overall the future seems to be leaning more towards the Podcast side of things because of convenience while radio still hangs on in the background, it may take a long time for it to completely take over or it may not happen, it all depends on the audience and whether technological improvements can convince people to change for the better or worse.

Bibliography

What is a Podcast. 2012. What is a Podcast. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/what-is-a-podcast.htm. [Accessed 15 March 2012].

History of Podcasting - Podcasting Articles | Voices.com. 2012. History of Podcasting - Podcasting Articles | Voices.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.voices.com/podcasting/history-of-podcasting.html. [Accessed 15 March 2012].

Images

The Indie Film Revue: Caught on Tape: The Art of VHS Collecting. 2012. The Indie Film Revue: Caught on Tape: The Art of VHS Collecting. [ONLINE] Available at: http://indiefilmrevue.blogspot.com/2011/01/vhs-underground.html. [Accessed 15 March 2012].

History of display technology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2012. History of display technology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_display_technology. [Accessed 15 March 2012].

D-NE241 – The New Sony Portable CD Player. 2012. D-NE241 – The New Sony Portable CD Player. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.techfresh.net/d-ne241-the-new-sony-portable-cd-player/. [Accessed 15 March 2012].