We’ve reclaimed ‘Geek’
March 22nd, 2005 by JoshApproximately 38% of the time when my phone rings it’s someone asking for help with their computer or other personal electronic device. This is actually a trend that began before college when my grandfather – a man who worked for alternatively Hewlett Packard, Hughes, and NASA – began deferring to me for computer advice. Sometimes it gets to be a bit aggravating, but these days I recognize that it’s my duty to help my technophobic brethren muddle through this increasingly interconnected and complex world.
The newest buzz on the Internet these days is podcasting. The concept is quite simple: Using the same syndication technology that powers blogs to broadcast music. But instead of a radio-like stream that needs to be listened to at broadcast time, podcasting puts the mp3s on your iPod or MP3 player. You run the software on your desktop, subscribe to whatever feeds interest you, and the next morning there are a bunch of unique and eclectic mp3s sitting on your player. Currently it’s mostly quirky individuals creating podcasts for audiences of a few thousand, but already NPR and other traditional media networks are beginning to explore the medium. Imagine a not-too-distant future where yesterday’s Howard Stern show, Fresh Air, that last Sixers game, and a collection of Inuit love ballads are waiting for you on your iPod for your morning commute. And in case you didn’t already get it, ANYONE with a cheap microphone and an internet connection can create their own podcast and serve it up to the world. Napster was only the first wave in destroying the music industry’s grip on the creation and distribution channels. Check out iPodder.org for software and PodcastAlley.com for a podcast directory.
The inspiration for this post was the inclusion of my band’s CARA nominated song, “Let Me Ride” in SlashdotReview‘s March 2 podcast.
