Effect of Students Using Podcasts - Essay Example

ID # Podcasting At the present, modern media is thrilling. In is scenario, Podcasts, Blogs, YouTube, video bloggingand numerous others are cool accompaniments to a variety of media variations. In fact, podcast offers new and vastly simplified means of communication, and communication is what media is all about. Thus, communication, and media are for all time developing (Egger; Kayne; Lesinski, Walker and Leveque). In addition, podcasting refers to broadcasting where programs are made available online by means of a subscription feed similar to RSS (Rich Site Summary), to be executed on MP3 or iPods players. In this scenario, subscribers are able to listen to podcasts using their computers, rather than sending them to a portable audio player. In fact, it is expected that coming editions of podcasting will include video signal. In this scenario, the cell phones with video potential will be capable of playing video podcasts. Actually, Adam Curry presented the idea of Podcasting. The application of this idea rose extensively with the emergence of networks and radio making material available for podcast fans. According to a research conducted by “USA Today” in February 2005 stated that over 3,300 podcast applications were available, immediately few months after its opening (Egger; Kayne; Lesinski, Walker and Leveque). Moreover, innovative technology based media has often replaced older media. However, it immediately does not take place that way. In fact, there are various aspects that turn out to be strictly out-of-date and have been replaced because of harsh boundaries they had (smoke signals are not that well-known any longer) however by and large, latest and innovative technology based media immediately supplements older media. Though, gestures did not turn out to be out of date for the reason that of speech. Additionally, the speech did not move away for the reason that of writing. In the same way, books did not put back the trend of letters. In addition, radio did not make books go absent, and neither did TV replace radio. On the other hand, the media backdrop is developing and the various kinds of media are affecting each other. Since people usually like to watch the Super Bowl on TV in place of listening to it on the radio. However, that is not equivalent "replacement". Additionally, radio certainly had to alter when TVs turned out to be well-known, however on the alternately, the number of radio stations almost certainly has augmented in those days (Egger; Kayne; Lesinski, Walker and Leveque). In this scenario, we have observed a comparable influence of todays "new media" on older media. In addition, the blogs are enormous; however they will not make magazines out of date. On the other hand, podcast is an improved method of delivery, not a substitute of radio. Things appear to be even tougher for video blogs (Egger; Kayne; Lesinski, Walker and Leveque). Additionally, one of the majority innovative features of podcasting is that it permits people to generate their own demonstrations at home. In this scenario, anybody with right software and a microphone is able to begin podcasting, arriving to a global audience. Thus, this opens doors to those who cannot afford to pay a lot of money to on-air their programs. In addition, podcasts as well avoid broadcasting regulations that limit normal radio and television; maybe the majority obvious in "podnography," the podcasting edition of pornography. In fact, podcasting is an idea that unites the word broadcasting with Apples iPod, some system or device that plays MP3 files will carry out using it. For this cause, suggestions have been formulated to alter the pod in podcasting to a short form of meaning "Personal On-Demand." In year 2005, Apple included podcasting into its iTunes technology based interface, capitalizing on the relationship as well as rising popularity (Kayne). In this scenario, the research conducted by “eMarketer” corporate revealed that the overall US podcast audience has reached to 18.5 million in 2007. In addition, this audience will augment with 251 percent to 65 million in 2012. Though, generally podcasting client demographics provide an extensive viewpoint on the medium. An ITunes account for 75 percent of the entire podcast downloads, from the Podtrac, consequently comScore’s October 2006 carried out a research on the iTunes podcast downloader’s and gathered the majority user’s interests (albertaJOBcast; BRASSmedia; The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited). However, it is not a good idea to think that the standard podcast client is a 23-year-old male with college learning and an actually big comic book collection. In addition, podcast clients are not a uniform group, which downloads a variety of material from religious to music broadcasts to museum tours. Generally, podcast downloader’s have a propensity to be male, young and educated. Particularly, people within the ages of 35 and 54 demonstrated half of the podcasting viewers (The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited). Moreover, a recent research conducted by University of Washington and RMIT University have demonstrated that 81 percent of students correspondingly listened to podcasts on their PC systems representing mobility was not the major motivator in making use of the podcasts in their learning. However, it is not the reason of this research to review the mobility with podcasts however the resulted form of media has on test performance. As research investigating the utilization of podcasts has added important data and information on a lot of qualitative areas and aspects of their usage, current advice has recommended that extra research needs to report transformations in desired (quantitative) learning results, in place of immediately qualitative measures. To that end, we are not responsive of some quantitative research assessing the influence of podcasts on student accomplishment (Abt and Barry). In case of online research regarding podcasting technology I have studied two different types of podcasts. Here I have used two primary sources (two podcasts, those are of different variety, one is a discussion forum based podcast and one is narrative podcast). In this research I have assessed that these podcasts are offering a variety of knowledge and information. The first podcast is about the science reports. This is a 60 second scientific information podcast that is available each weekday for getting quick reports and commentaries on the world of science. This podcast mainly target the new technology enthusiasts those want to gain a great deal of scientific knowledge. These podcasts are able to offer a deep insight into the new developments in technology; for example I have heard a new technology based podcast on new discovery of plants and stars. This links of these podcasts are given below: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/ and http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/podcasts.cfm?type=60-second-science The second podcast is a discussion forum podcast that offers a lot of information and knowledge about lots of areas of our community. It offers discussions on current news, sports, games, social relations, etc. I have heard lots of podcast and assessed their diversity. These have offered me a great deal of support to assess and analyze the basic influence of these podcasts on our life. I have joined an online discussion forum that encompasses a variety of topics. Here I found the discussion topic on “Paintball Podcast Celebrates Five Years”. Here I got a paintball-themed podcast that is released the episode demonstrating its fifth year of steady paintball coverage. It demonstrates characteristics in-depth gear reviews, interviews and paintball industry news. I have heard the 200th episodes of this show. The link of this show is presented below: http://blastradius.ning.com/forum/topics/paintball-podcast-celebrates In conclusion, this paper has discussed some of the important aspects of new technology evolution especially in media related areas. In this regard I have assessed and analyzed the technology of Podcasting. This research has highlighted some of the main areas of this technology and its possible influences on our daily life. Works Cited Abt, Grant and Tim Barry. The Quantitative Effect of Students Using Podcasts in a First Year Undergraduate Exercise Physiology Module. 13 December 2007. 28 September 2011 . albertaJOBcast; BRASSmedia. Podcast Audience Demographics. 29 February 2008. 26 September 2011 . Egger, Markus. New Media replacing Old Media? 22 July 2006. 28 September 2011 . Kayne, R. What is Podcasting? 2011. 30 September 2011 . Lesinski, Tom, Alison Walker and Stephanie Leveque. PODCASTING. 2011. 29 September 2011 . The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited. Podcast user demographics. 2011. 26 September 2011 . Read More