Disadvantages of Podcasting

Podcasting has become the latest technological way for schools and companies to create audio-related programs that will allow students and employees to download, subscribe and listen to files with convenience. You can easily subscribe to Podcasts to receive new files by downloading them to an iPod or a computer. Sounds simple and easy but just like any other gadget or technological feature, it comes with its disadvantages.

Podcasting can be used by professors as a means to provide or receive information from students. However, a disadvantage to this form of data is that the Web is such a vast and very public space where anyone from anywhere can publish files. Therefore, instructors and teachers have to spend time checking if the files and data published are verified. It can be very time consuming especially for larger files. It is also estimated that it takes 45 minutes to produce an 8 minute show.

Podcasts are not always easily searchable. Although there are several search engines you can use, it is impossible to directly search within the audio file itself. This could be a huge disadvantage for many individuals, especially those who prefer to gather their data by quickly scanning through the texts.

Editing and uploading files, especially if they're high quality files, can be quite a challenge. Large files will demand not just a broadband connection, but a connection that is fast enough. Using dial-up connections for uploading and downloading will probably take too much of your time. Podcast creators will also need to make sure that the file formats they use will be compatible to other devices and not just iPods alone.

Not everyone owns a mobile device. Podcasting may just divide the market and alienate those who cannot have access to it. Some people are also just not interested in having to download files from the Web in order to have access to them, and some will prefer reading instead of listening to an audio file.

Allowing the use of iPods in schools and companies can provide distractions and may result in poor productivity. Those with iPods can easily be sidetracked and listen to music or watch movies instead of doing actual work. Distractions for students and employees could mean poor performance.