What are the Other Uses for Podcasting?

Podcasting will eventually come to include content that goes well beyond audio to include video, and maybe more. But for now, it’s an audio format. So other than radio style programming (or indeed, radio programming itself) what can you do with a podcast?

Non-Commercial (or Semi-Commercial) Uses of Podcasting

Since podcasting is really just a convenient digital method of distributing updated audio information that can then be listened to at the listener.s leisure, there are many non-commercial and semi-commercial applications for the technology developing.

Among the frontrunners in the trend are these:

Supplementary information for news outlets: Many text based news organizations are starting to offer supplemental material in the form of podcasts.

Education:
Several schools in Europe have started using podcasts to deliver things like foreign language practice materials and homework.

There are additional educational opportunities, not least, the obvious power of teaching visually impaired students this way. Also, the days of the lecture-hall micro-tape machine may be numbered!



Self-guided tours:
You’ve probably seen people renting the oversized Walkman style cassette based walking tours for museums and other places. Podcasting reduces the cost, improves the quality, and gives the user a souvenir. Of course, there are plenty of commercial applications for this model too, and so far, most self-guided tour podcasts remain unofficial.

Religion:
Religion remains a largely verbal enterprise, and beginning with the Catholic Church (the program is .Disciples With Microphones.) religious organizations are making sermons and services available this way.

TV Commentary .tracks:
As more and more DVDs contain commentary tracks from the director, several television directors have developed episode by episode commentary tracks as podcasts, beginning with the new ‘Battlestar Gallactica’ on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Avoiding broadcast regulations:
Whether the FCC in the United States, the OFCOM in England or other bodies elsewhere, the rules on radio are tight; the rules on podcasting are none.

Alternative channels /Advocacy.
As in the CBC example mentioned above, when radio or any other ‘staff’ are silenced, podcasting is an alternative channel that no public or private company regulates. In fact, many of these are starting to develop their own cult followings, complete with new names!