I CHATTED WITH Mark Rock and several Irish users of Audioboo yesterday and think we enjoyed a eureka moment about threaded audio conversations. Audioboo takes the idea of radio chats to new level. Christian Payne is showing how this can be a very effective community tactic. I also think Audioboo represents the active layer of podcasting because you don't have to know how to spell the word "podcast" in order to create your first shareable audio snippet with Audioboo.
Like many people, I listen to audio conversations on the air several times a week. The liveliest are people arguing in conference calls on Joe Duffy's Liveline at 1345 every weekday on RTE Radio One. Afternoon drivetime radio also offers conversations between differing opinion-makers. In both cases, the radio stations connect the voices through phone calls and broadcast masts. Most of these broadcasts become podcasts where the conversations reach another audience, some listening to the time-delayed conversations as podcasts on their phones.
With Audioboo streams, the same kind of audio conversation could happen. The radio presenter could record a five-minute segment that outlines an issue, let Audioboo post the clip, and listeners like me could use their iPhones to respond to a clip. Other listeners who are subscribed to the presenter would get the original clip downloaded to their phone, along with all the comments from myself and all other repondents. If it suits, the original radio presenter could air all the comments as a segment on a wrap-up day. People like listening to opinions about controversial things.
I think Audioboo are onto a big thing here and it's as big as the first version of podcasting. People are using their smartphones to interact in ways that go well beyond making calls. Audioboo makes easy work of listening and chatting with new friends. Mark Rock and his crew have developed an easy and fun way of sharing spoken audio. I'm addicted already as you can tell at http://audioboo.fm/topgold
Mark Rock -- "Streams and an updated iPhone app" on the Audioboo blog, 23 Jun 10 and his talk at Dublin's Digital Exchange, 28 Jun 10.
Christian Payne -- "Audioboo is launching streams", from the Our Man Inside blog, 21 Jun 10.
Previously: "Irish gardens need audio streams", 26 Jun 10.
