Apreche's Journal: Audioblogging

I need some input on this one. A lot of people are talking about stuff like video blogs being the next big thing. Possibly even replacing television. But I see this as a ways off, for various reasons. I think a blog that combines audio and text/graphics on a web site would be the way to go.

Why aren't video blogs good yet? Having someone download your blog entries isn't the best. Streaming would be very much inherent to making the experience a good one. And streaming video formats that are common, free, open, etc. are few and far between. I'm sure there is a nice free open streaming video system, but who's got it? And you can use windows media, real, or quick time, but they aren't nice and free and un-evil. Also having a video blog makes it difficult for the user to simultaneously scroll around web pages.

The audio blog is a better experience I feel for the following reasons. The user can simultaneously read a web site you are talking about while they hear you comment on it. It could be like a radio morning show that people can listen to while they check the rest of the net. And of course, the technical aspect. mp3/ogg are common, "free", require little bandwith, and anyone on the net has playing software.

So here's where I need input. There are already audioblogs in existance, but they aren't very good. A lot of them are just people going "hehe, you can hear my voice, that's freaky. wow, this is a neat toy, blah blah blah". I'm interested in having a "routine" like morning radio shows. Segments, music maybe, possibly even call ins and live bloggin'. What kind of segments should I do?

I figured stuff like this
1)Comment on big news, /. stories, etc.
2)Play song of the day
3)Read listener e-mails and respond
4)Laugh at a few of the funniest stories (fark?)
5)Point to a few really good new websites and comment
6)talk about video game stuff
7)talk about anime stuff
8)mention any funny and publicly appropriate stories from my life
9)talk to my friends
10)unedited/uncensored.

I was thinking putting it up as really low bitrate mp3, like 56kbps, which is about radio quality. Anything you think I should/shouldn't talk about? Any cool ideas in general would be appreciated. As soon as I decide on a format I'll start doing it. The FRC blog we started a while ago has bombed, so I think a personal audioblog might be more fun and workable. Plus, I'll be sure to create an automated reminder service so I update it on a regular schedule. Midnightish? And I know I've gotta have a text accompanyment for deaf folks.

Audio blogging

[Jim123]

Perhaps worth noting is that we can listen faster than we can read. Some MP3 players allow you to play at faster than normal speeds, e.g., Creative Labs Nomad Jukeboxes. I think that a minute of audio is about 4MG of space, so downloading could be slow for a lot of listeners. I'd prefer listening to much of what I read on the web, but if I did it on a MP3 player I'd like to have a repeat button that could be programmed to repeat anywhere from the last 3 seconds up to a minute. Jim in Virginia

Re:Audio blogging

[Apreche]

That's a good point that listening is faster than reading. That gives me hope that this project will see some success. However, you've got a few things going wrong here.

Sure, someone could download the blog and listen to it on a mp3 player, but that's not what I'm thinking of doing. I'm thinking of creating a dual experience. Users will read the blog, check out the sites, and comment on the blog while listening to it. Maybe even calling, e-mailing, or IMing me during the blog. It's a much more fun and

Re:Audio blogging

[Jim123]

You're right about the WAV vs MP3 and transmission rates. The audio bloggin you describe sounds very much like live chat. The concept might make a good research project. If I did it, I'd find some hot-button topic where readers are very likely to respond, so you could follow up with a survey to see how they regarded the experience. Are there academic blogs, or CS blogs, even CS blogs on one campus?--just misc thoughts. Good luck. Jim in Virginia