What does it mean?

A podcast is a transmission of digital media files in audio, video or any other format, over the web. It is a series of many small parts that follow web syndication and can be downloaded. Like, on radio it is broadcast, on television, it is telecast; the same way on internet it is podcast.

Where did the term ‘podcast’ originate?

This term is a mix of two terms – the first part, pod, relates to the iPod, a popular portable media layer device by Apple Computers; and the second part, cast, is derived from broadcast. A British journalist, broadcaster and photographer, Ben Hammersley first mentioned this term in 2004 in one of his articles. He also suggested a few other names, but incidentally, ‘podcast’ caught on. Some others refer to it as Netcast as well.

What supports podcast?

Despite the name that has derived from iPod, the usage of podcasts is not restricted to this particular gadget. It can be played on any media player whether it is portable or system based like computers. Its format is easily accessible across playing platforms.

What are podcast types?

Though podcasts are mostly in user friendly MP3 file format; there are various types of podcast based on the format as well as what it contains.

An audio podcast is in simple audio format without any kind of video or graphics supporting it.

Similarly another popular type of podcast is video podcast. Sometimes it is also referred to as vodcast. It is mostly a video clip delivered online. Television serials that can be viewed through cable, a set top box or a computer, are all video podcast.

A podcast that contains an audio with simultaneous display of images is called as enhanced podcast. Images may be in the form of an artwork, animation or a recorded video. While playing podcast, all these are activated simultaneously within the window of the device on which it is being played. It is fast catching the fancy of one and all, as it enables audio and video to amalgamate and produce the required information. Educational institutes, business houses, entertainment producers are all vying for enhanced podcasts to achieve their purposes.

What is its utility?

Great! You have the sky – you display your flight skills now. What Podcast has been able to do is, given you an opportunity to be creative in a particular media.  What you are able to make out of this – is your take.

Audio and video podcasts can give a whole new meaning for ways to delivering web content. This will also be able to generate better audiences since is based on multimedia. Providing viable and meaningful content using podcast would be a challenging task.

How we are able to make use of this space would be very interesting. Unlike the verbal scripted text there is less room for blah – blah – blah. Multimedia may be difficult creating, but it sure makes a better impact.

Audio and Video Podcasts can give a fresh and new meaning to the working of the World Wide Web.