Today, we're going to talk about the new and fresh way of lifecasting and webcasting, and a brief historical look at what they've been heavily influenced by: podcasting!

Podcasting is the act of rapidly producing and distributing audio and video productions through the internet to an audience worldwide, where those productions will be played from a personal computer or transferred to some portable media device. But what makes these a podcast, apart from other forms of online media distribution, are that these episodes or shows could be downloaded automatically and kept up to date on your media player. When it comes down to it, podcasting really would not have been what it is today if it weren't for a few important pieces of technology: the internet and “Web 2.0”, RSS feeds, and Apple's iPod and iTunes.

Obviously the internet is the infrastructure that allows something like podcasting to happen, by providing the ability to interconnect with people all around the world. With both the potential that the internet has for massive media broadcasting, and yet still a fine and accurate way of communicating on a person-by-person basis, the internet is far from any other medium when it comes to these features.

With that way of reaching so many people and connecting them together, we come to the philosophy of Web 2.0, the greatest thing that has to do with the podcasting business, and my favorite idea of the internet as a cultural crossroads. Web 2.0 can be summarized with the concept that the internet, as it was first created wholly by large business icons and corporations to compose some sort of online profile or business card, the internet is now created at its ends, by people like you and me. With sites like Youtube and MySpace providing you the canvas to sound off, to entertain, or to discuss topics, you and I become the artists, we are the new creators.

On the internet where everyone is equal, we all have our fair share of pride in the things we've created since this Web 2.0 era began. And with that idea, podcasting is made possible. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds were the first electronic road maps and pipelines used to update and maintain production streams from the online host or podcaster to your machines and portable devices, once you've subscribed to a production's feed or stream.

Finally, Apple's contribution of the iPod and iTunes provided the last bits of portability and support for this once new medium. With the iPod's incredible popularity since it was first released in late-2001 it made the transition from what portable media could be, to what it is today. Back when some people were still in the stages of “but where do you put the CD in?”, iPod changed that with a great product that is now one of the iconic portable media players worldwide. When iTunes was coupled with the iPod that same year, the connection for portable media was stronger than ever. And in 2005, when iTunes officially supported podcasting with features of an online directory for all sorts of different podcasts, the automatic updating of your shows from the internet to your devices, and an extensive library of shows available to you on demand... the biggest step in bringing podcasting to connected-homes everywhere was practically done with those two Apple products.

So now we've had podcasting for some time, and since it's only natural for things to grow in a number of ways and for some things to develop and change the use and capability of a product, we now have a new variation of online broadcasting developing as we're seeing it today: lifecasting/webcasting. Much like the same idea that podcasting was created by us for us to watch and entertain, webcasting is the live broadcast of the same product. Yeah, live podcasting. Such sites like Ustream.tv have made this possible, and one of my most favorite applications of the art is done by Chris Pirillo, former TV host from TechTV, who produces his podcasts straight from his home, and they're uploaded to Youtube throughout the day. Chris broadcasts his office live, 24/7, where he can be found for about half of the day to chat with you, do his work, or maybe answer some tech questions if you're lucky; you can find him at <http://www.live.pirillo.com">Live.Pirillo.com</a>.

While some people set up live streams to be shown throughout the day, one aspiring lifecaster had taken the act of lifecasting to the extreme, when he broadcast his life night and day, 24/7, on the move. Justin.tv served as one of the best attempts at doing this, where Justin Kan, one of the founders of the site, donned a hat with a camera, a backpack that carried a laptop and wireless internet everywhere he went, and a ton of backup batteries to keep the rig going day after day after day. They have been going on with this since mid-last year, with frequent technical issues, but overall a really impressive experience. Justin.tv has since become another lifecasting website allowing people from all over to do the same from their own personal computers.

If you want to check out some of my favorite podcasts, which I watch frequently, then check out Revision3.com for Diggnation, The Totally Rad Show, and Tekzilla. Also, give Chris Pirillo a visit at Live.Pirillo.com, or check out some new streams at Ustream.tv or Justin.tv!