"Information Underground" is an experimental audiocast
where you get to hear some familiar voices from audiocasts
- many of the "Hacker Public Radio" family - talk about
non-tech topics.
Why experimental? Tech changes all the time, and it is time
to see if a certain mix of technology will work as an
audiocast. "Information Underground" will bring you "speex"
files for the run of it's pilot season. This "speexcast"
will have high recording values, however the "tight" nature
of a maxed-out speex file will ensure that folks with
modest Internet connections get to enjoy the programs. The
shows will be shared via a standard RSS feed and any
documents to support the show will be shared via gopher.
This combination will also have what is hoped to be a
profound effect on the production. Having one audio file
in a free (both as in license and as in "freely
convertible,") RSS feed for automatic transfer of the
audiocasts to the listeners, and a "drop the document in
the folder and forget it" system for show notes, should
allow the producers swift production with a minimum of
drudge-work, thus allowing them to continue with the rest
of their lives, both online and offline.
The licensing will be Creative Commons Attribute
Share-Alike. Yes, we are allowing commercial reuse as well
as derivatives. "Tear down the Walls," "Shovelware
producers start your engines." It's time to flood the
market with good and inexpensive audio programming, so
let's hope that this can give it to the RIAA types where it
hurts them the most, in their wallets!
