The user decides
New Media The terms weblogs, wikis and podcasting, which fall under the umbrella term Web 2.0, are changing the way content is handled: Anyone can use them to publish.
New Media The terms weblogs, wikis and podcasting, which fall under the umbrella term Web 2.0, are changing the way content is handled: Anyone can use them to publish. When a private user picks up a keyboard or uses a video camera or microphone to record and publish their captured, spoken or filmed content on the web, the result is known as user-generated content (UGC). In order to make the content available to a large audience, there are various platforms depending on the content. Typical and best-known UGC portals or Web 2.0 platforms are the video portal YouTube, the image portal Flickr or the mixed website MySpace, which cannot be clearly categorized. Other ways for private individuals to publish content without having to resort to these large portals - which also means that less of an audience can be reached - are weblogs, wikipedias or podcasts. Weblogs (a kind of electronic diary that can be added to either by the initiator or by anyone) and wikis (content that can be added to by the publisher or by users) are mainly text-based, although images and video are increasingly being used as supplementary elements. While wikis provide information (Wikipedia.com is the best-known wiki), weblogs - an artificial word made up of web and log - mainly focus on entertainment, sharing experiences or, like the local blog http://reklame.moblog.ch, present themselves as a communication platform.
Audio content can also be broadcast via the Internet connection, at least since it became possible to broadcast web radio programs. With programs such as Nicecast (www.rogueamoeba.com/nicecast [Mac OS], SAM Broadcaster (www.spacialaudio.com [Windows]), anyone who has something to say can theoretically publish web radio broadcasts. Web radios are to be distinguished from podcasts. Podcasts created with special software (e.g. Garageband [Mac OS]; Podcast Studio [Windows]) can provide complete audio or even video contributions and broadcasts. In contrast to web radio, podcasts can be listened to at any time and can also contain images or video sequences in addition to audio. They can be downloaded not only in the browser, but also by the user onto their computer or MP3 player.
Push technologies deliver content on a subscription basisUsers who rely on today's technologies do not have to actively search for content, as was the case when the World Wide Web was first established, but can make use of so-called push technologies. RSS technology, which enables "simple content distribution" (Really Simple Syndication), should be mentioned here in particular. Anyone interested in SF DRS broadcasts, for example, can subscribe to their RSS feeds and never miss an issue. The easiest way to subscribe is with the iTunes program, which is available free of charge for Windows and Mac operating systems. A corresponding Internet address (podcasting address) can be entered under the "Advanced > Subscribe to podcast" function. As soon as you open iTunes again, the current podcasts are available for download and can be synchronized with an MP3 player.
Content "on demand "Weblogs, wikis and podcasts are changing the way content is handled. The traditional way of delivering content at a specific point in time has gained competition with the new technologies. Users will increasingly decide when they want to consume which content. Wikis, weblogs and podcasts are not competing Web 2.0 elements. On the contrary, they can be combined very well. For example, www.rocketboom.com offers a daily show for download, which can also be subscribed to in the iTunes Store. A corresponding wiki is available at http://rocketboom.wikia.com and a blog at www.rocketboom.org.
The content broadcast or provided free of charge is financed by advertising. Merchandising products such as T-shirts also finance the service.
Jürgen Franck
Audio content can also be broadcast via the Internet connection, at least since it became possible to broadcast web radio programs. With programs such as Nicecast (www.rogueamoeba.com/nicecast [Mac OS], SAM Broadcaster (www.spacialaudio.com [Windows]), anyone who has something to say can theoretically publish web radio broadcasts. Web radios are to be distinguished from podcasts. Podcasts created with special software (e.g. Garageband [Mac OS]; Podcast Studio [Windows]) can provide complete audio or even video contributions and broadcasts. In contrast to web radio, podcasts can be listened to at any time and can also contain images or video sequences in addition to audio. They can be downloaded not only in the browser, but also by the user onto their computer or MP3 player.
Push technologies deliver content on a subscription basisUsers who rely on today's technologies do not have to actively search for content, as was the case when the World Wide Web was first established, but can make use of so-called push technologies. RSS technology, which enables "simple content distribution" (Really Simple Syndication), should be mentioned here in particular. Anyone interested in SF DRS broadcasts, for example, can subscribe to their RSS feeds and never miss an issue. The easiest way to subscribe is with the iTunes program, which is available free of charge for Windows and Mac operating systems. A corresponding Internet address (podcasting address) can be entered under the "Advanced > Subscribe to podcast" function. As soon as you open iTunes again, the current podcasts are available for download and can be synchronized with an MP3 player.
Content "on demand "Weblogs, wikis and podcasts are changing the way content is handled. The traditional way of delivering content at a specific point in time has gained competition with the new technologies. Users will increasingly decide when they want to consume which content. Wikis, weblogs and podcasts are not competing Web 2.0 elements. On the contrary, they can be combined very well. For example, www.rocketboom.com offers a daily show for download, which can also be subscribed to in the iTunes Store. A corresponding wiki is available at http://rocketboom.wikia.com and a blog at www.rocketboom.org.
The content broadcast or provided free of charge is financed by advertising. Merchandising products such as T-shirts also finance the service.
Jürgen Franck
