podcasting at the ttag
emma hogbin

I am:
- a web developer
- a community builder
- addicted to crafts
- daughter of stephen and maryann
- an internet loafer

the Web is a scary place
photo credit: iNmO_Khem (flickr)

but it can be tamed
Photo credit: Marc Shandro (flickr)

the best part about technology
is how it brings us together

together with a common goal
and around common interests
acnatta

podcasting is a mash­up of
iPod + broadcasting

podcasts are audio files that start
their public lives on the Internet

podcasts are designed to be
downloaded onto a media player
and listened to at a later date

(not all podcasts are like this)

podcasts are changing
broadcast media

CBC Radio now offers many of
their popular shows “on demand”

using the broadcast model:
podcasts are released on a
regular schedule

special software can be used to
notify you when new podcasts
are available

this is referred to as
“subscribing to a podcast”

the ability to “subscribe” to a
podcast is important

it allows you to “push” content to
your visitors without waiting for
them to visit your Web site

there are podcasts about knitting,
wine, technology, art, dogs,
pottery, politics
(but apparently not guinea pigs)

do a Web search for “podcast”
and your favourite subject

in 2004 Art Mobs tried
something new

they hacked the MoMA

and produced their
own audio guides of the
Museum of Modern Art

and they encouraged others to
make their own guides as well
http://mod.blogs.com/art_mobs/

free audio guides are now
available in many
museums and galleries

many are listed at MuseumPods
www.museumpods.com

also: AGO and the ROM
http://www.artmatters.ca/blog/
http://www.rom.on.ca/media/podcasts/index.php

so how
does it
work?

most sites will allow you to
listen to a podcast right now

but using a reader will allow you
to download the podcast and
listen to it later

to subscribe to a podcast you
need a “news reader”

most modern browsers can also
be used as a news reader
but iTunes is popular too

subscribing to a podcast:
1. go to to the podcast site
2. look for the orange icon
3. click it
4. follow the instructions to subscribe to
the podcast

the latest podcast
will be downloaded to your
computer you can listen to it...
whenever

when a new episode is available
it will be downloaded and you
can listen to it ... whenever

warning

Photo credit: spacejaq (flickr)
podcasting is not for dial-up
internet connections

audio files are big and take a
long time to download

(there will be media players
available at the gallery for people
to enjoy the tours in-house)

listening to podcasts is pretty easy
when you know how

making podcasts is pretty easy
too... when you know how

ready? let’s go!

podcasting in ten easy steps

1. decide what your
podcast is about

is it an interview?
does it tell a story about a thing?
is it a “response” piece?

interviews: Spark on CBC radio
www.cbc.ca/spark

stories about things:
Every Object.net
http://www.everyobject.net/user.php?id=1

response pieces: Art Mobs
http://mod.blogs.com/art_mobs

2. define your audience
(and their attention span)

will they listen to it on your site?
in the car?
do they know lots about your topic?

on the Web: the ROM
http://www.rom.on.ca/media/podcasts/index.php
includes video

in the car: AGO lectures

3. write a script

this prevents you from rambling
on and on and on and on
AND
helps to reduce stage fright
when you start recording

4. assemble your hardware

computer
microphone
speakers
Internet connection

5. install your software

audacity to record and edit audio
(the rest are Web-based tools that don’t need to be installed)

6. record your podcast

7. add music for excitement
http://creativecommons.org

8. upload your podcast

9. add the text transcript

for dial-up listeners and to
improve search engine rankings

10. promote your podcast!

But we want
to add
PICTURES!

pictures are like little
parties for the eyes

Yes, we want
little parties!

adding pictures changes a
podcast into a vodcast

you can pair podcasts with Web
pages that have images for
visual engagement

The Ten Easy Steps of
Podcasting
1.decide what your 6.record your podcast
podcast is about 7.add music for
2.define your audience excitement
3.write a script 8.upload your podcast
4.assemble your 9.add the text
hardware transcript
5.install your software 10.promote your
podcast

The Web is now your oyster!
Live long and prosper!
Emma Hogbin
emma@xtrinsic.com
www.xtrinsic.com