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MIT Plans To Convert Cell Phone Users Into Podcasters

robyn217 writes "A new research project at MIT's Media Lab, entitled RadioActive, aims to turn every cell phone or PDA carrying member of the public into a podcaster, and every mobile device into a virtual podcasting studio. The project defines a large-scale asynchronous audio messaging system in which voice messages can be threaded like text in a discussion forum (like on Slashdot) as a method of 'discussion-on-demand.'"

8 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. PODCAST IS JUST A FANCY WAY OF SAYING "PUTTING AN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    MP3 ON THE INTERNET" confirm/deny

    [x] confirm

  2. Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    In Russia, you listen to podcast. In Soviet America, podcast listens to you!

  3. I Don't See the Point... by Quaoar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I mean, leaving video messages back and forth is no more useful than leaving text messages for one important reason: You lose the fluidity of real conversation/discussion. If I'm having a heated discussion with someone about something, it's nice to be able to get a word in edge-wise so I can properly have a conversation with them. And facial cues/expressions kinda don't work when you can't gauge audience reaction.

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  4. I can see it now... by shootTheMessenger · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... hundreds of people in geek-infested cities all shouting "First!" into their cell phones.

  5. not as much podcasting by jbloggs · · Score: 3, Informative

    its only 'podcasting' in the sense that you're recording audio for others consumption. its much more about the discussions within a community (local physical/social context)....

    For more info here's the project website

    this was recently used in the elens project, and its video can be found here.

    a live demo should be up this weekend

  6. Already exists... by JFMulder · · Score: 4, Funny

    Honnestly, some people talk so loudly on their cell phone, it's already some form of podcasting.

  7. Re:PODCAST IS JUST A FANCY WAY OF SAYING "PUTTING by stunt_penguin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    [x] Deny

    An mp3 on the internet is an audio download

    An RSS feed that contains audio downloads for the purpose of automatic and easy synchronisation to a digital audio player is a podcast.

    People like the linked article don't know what they're talking about when they say that an ordainary download can be called a podcast. You could call it a threaded audio message board, but it wouldn't be a podcast.

    One disadvantage to discussion boards that are audio based is that you can't search or index the information without some kind of speech-to-text recognition.

    That said, what if you could search audio by speaking into a mic and having the search engine search for those sounds. An intersting case, humm.......

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  8. Similiar to Vaestro.com by ready29003 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    http://www.vaestro.com/ is already doing this in a web based version. It is pretty clear to see how this could be integrated with a mobile phone interface.

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