On Telecommuting

Robert Scoble argued with Peter Davis (and 60+ commenters) about whether podcasts are useful and have future or they do not. Since I am a constant ‘content absorber’ and value my time while absorbing it, here is my take on podcasting.

To me, ‘podcast’ is no more than a new word and new buzz. Educate me on what I am missing. — Podcast is a bit of shortened version of content-rich-sound options that have been out there for years.

Audio books have existed for years, first on tapes, then as digital files. For three or more years, Audible.com has been offering WSJ news every morning for those who want to listen to news while commuting. When I used to commute (drive) to work, news stream in the morning was useful, still audio books worked better than news. Burning news on CD or downloading to a sound device every morning was quite a bit of a task and the next morning it is old news anyway. There is also choice of radio for news and interviews. (Soon available on mobile devices too.) (Aka, competition.)

It has taken many ups and downs for Audible to start making it, and they are subscription based. With podcasting being positioned as free content en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast, and with audience becoming more and more ad and promotions averse, it would be very interesting to see viable business models for businesses offering podcasts.

Since I started telecommuting, I have not found podcasts helpful in delivering information either. Glancing over content on-line is much more efficient. Rarely there is an engaging speaker (in a video file) that would make it through all other content out there.

I guess in the areas where there is no connection, like one of the commenters commented, podcasts can help, but then again, one has to have connection to download them often enough, otherwise it is old news, or it is a timeless audio book.

When jogging outside, podcasts, or any content-rich-sound for that matter, do not work for me either, music does. Music is ‘content free’, it has rhythm and can either add to speed or take from it. With any ‘content rich’ sound, I find myself concentrating on what that last sentence was and miss the next one; at the end I do not get much info, and missed an enjoyable run too.

If my iPod happens to be out of juice (and there is not time to charge it up), TVs in the gym work ok, but then, there is more visual to that rather than just sound, and even if I miss something, not a big deal.

Where I do find ‘podcasts’ helpful – record your own speeches, listen to your voice and see if you like the sound of it. Master your speech making that way.

Good luck to Robert with his new endeavor and to prove all naggers wrong. It is worth trying even if only for the experience of building his own thing.

Robert Scoble argued with Peter Davis (and 60+ commenters) about whether podcasts are useful and have future or they do not. Since I am a constant ‘content absorber’ and value my time while absorbing it, here is my take on podcasting.

To me, ‘podcast’ is no more than a new word and new buzz. Educate me on what I am missing. — Podcast is a bit of shortened version of content-rich-sound options that have been out there for years.

Audio books have existed for years, first on tapes, then as digital files. For three or more years, Audible.com has been offering WSJ news every morning for those who want to listen to news while commuting. When I used to commute (drive) to work, news stream in the morning was useful, still audio books worked better than news. Burning news on CD or downloading to a sound device every morning was quite a bit of a task and the next morning it is old news anyway. There is also choice of radio for news and interviews. (Soon available on mobile devices too.) (Aka, competition.)

It has taken many ups and downs for Audible to start making it, and they are subscription based. With podcasting being positioned as free content en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast, and with audience becoming more and more ad and promotions averse, it would be very interesting to see viable business models for businesses offering podcasts.

Since I started telecommuting, I have not found podcasts helpful in delivering information either. Glancing over content on-line is much more efficient. Rarely there is an engaging speaker (in a video file) that would make it through all other content out there.

I guess in the areas where there is no connection, like one of the commenters commented, podcasts can help, but then again, one has to have connection to download them often enough, otherwise it is old news, or it is a timeless audio book.

When jogging outside, podcasts, or any content-rich-sound for that matter, do not work for me either, music does. Music is ‘content free’, it has rhythm and can either add to speed or take from it. With any ‘content rich’ sound, I find myself concentrating on what that last sentence was and miss the next one; at the end I do not get much info, and missed an enjoyable run too.

If my iPod happens to be out of juice (and there is not time to charge it up), TVs in the gym work ok, but then, there is more visual to that rather than just sound, and even if I miss something, not a big deal.

Where I do find ‘podcasts’ helpful – record your own speeches, listen to your voice and see if you like the sound of it. Master your speech making that way.

Good luck to Robert with his new endeavor and to prove all naggers wrong. It is worth trying even if only for the experience of building his own thing.