Podcasting

Purpose – Inform or entertain an audience. This also allows unknown artists to promote their work on a more independent level as well as offer communication and interaction with users that comment on the show.

Audience – Niche market that plugs into the exact content they are interested in.

Design – Originally created and controlled by iTunes but then propagated to all forms of the web design.  Video blogs have some structure in that the creator tends to present directly to the audience.

Business Model – Independent vendors are free, whereas more corporate versions might make revenue off of advertising or membership.

History – According to Wikipedia the podcasting concept took off in 2004. The history can be drawn back to the iPod and the distribution of content through iTunes.

Technology – The technology varies on the end of the creator, which could range from huge production studios to a 14 year old with a consumer level camera. Podcasting is paired with multiple forms of media to create and distribute the content.

Digg

Purpose – The purpose is to sort submitted pages in order of preference or quality. The users promote or demote items based on the quality of content, which drives the more interesting pages to the top.

Audience -  Any internet user can participate for free. Advertisers seek more viewership through being Dugg. All of the content on the web becomes available to anyone.

Design – The content is subject to consensus of the masses, smaller more unique articles could slip through the gaps. User accounts and commenting systems allow for further communication.  User can filter content based on generic categories.

Business Model – $250,000 per month is made on onsite advertising and sponsorships. The site also makes money from collateral like shirts and video podcasting. This tends to be more true to a traditional business model.

History – November 2004 the site was created and launched by Kevin Rose, Owen Byrne, Ron Gorodetzky, and Jay Adelson. Version 2 which featured AdSense Advertising was introduced in July 2005. Version 3 was released in June 2006.

Technology – As a user you participate in determining the sites content by discovering, selecting and sharing content. The site also features a friend system to email stories to fellow users. The site also utilizes a blog style comment system for feedback on the articles.

Digital Technology: Café Press
History:

• Founded in 1999 by Fred Durham and Maheesh Jain

Technology:

• Utilizes POD technology
• Web-to-print
• Enables communication between consumers and designers

Purpose:

• To facilitate artists who don’t have printing techniques of their own
• Gives artist a free shop to sell products online

Target Audience:

• Artists
• Entrepreneurs
• People who want to produce in small scale
• Consumers!

Design:

• Web 2.0 interfaceà Streamlined/User-based
• Shopping: Store front

Business Model:

• Customizable Merchandising
• Self-publishing online stores

Digital Tech: Text Messaging
History:

• First message in 1992, Short Message Service
• First phone-phone text message by engineer student at Nokia in 1993

Technology:

• Network
•  Service providers
• Cell phones

Purpose:

• Person to person messaging
• Visual communication, when you need to contact someone without calling
• Less intrusive
• Interact with automated systems

Target Audience:

• 13-22 age group
• Increasing among adults, especially business users

Design:

• Visual representation on a phone
• Keypad
• Almost an instant messenger type/email
• Screen

Business Model:

• 3rd party messages
• Subscription packages
• Pay per message/per letter

Email

history - MIT first demonstrated the CTSS in 1961. Email started in 1965 as users on a mainframe to communicate. Ray Tomlinson initiated the use of the @ sign to separate names from their machine in 1971. ARPANET increased popularity of email

Target audience - Anyone trying to communicate over a network or the web

Purpose - Provides quick communication  between users

Technology- Based on decentralized message communication. Simple mail transfer protocol transfers the mail to the server then to the next user.

Design- Quick and easy communication without using paper

Business Model - Yahoo! Mail Plus for $19.99/year is a good example. It is a subscription service with more features and a free service with limited options backed by ads.  There are also small services that offer email to small and mid-sized business. These services charge $5-$15 depending on size of inbox and other services like calendar synching, IM systems, and tech support.