Talking Voices Ireland

Marie Boran in Silicon Republic Reports

A selection of audio and video lectures and talks from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) today became available on Apple’s educational podcast service, iTunes U, making it the first Irish university to join.
The iTunes U store is a free educational research tool that works in association with educational institutes around the world. Today marked the arrival of institutes from Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

TCD’s iTunes U site contains a selection of audio and video podcasts, including a public lecture from Nobel prize-winner and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, Dr James Watson, as well as courses on the disciplines of immunology, education and computer programming.

As TCD provost, Dr John Hegarty, pointed out, Trinity College is now the oldest established university in iTunes U, having been founded in 1592.

Hegarty said: “Through pioneering the use of this new technology, Trinity College is reaching out to a variety of audiences – potential and current students, staff, alumni and the general public, in fact anyone with a love of learning, which demonstrates our social and educational outreach mission.”

Podcasting is the next growth area in higher-level education, according to John Murphy, acting director of TCD Information Systems Services: “The iTunes U interface provides control, flexibly, accessibility and management of the college’s online content in a manner not previously available.”

TCD can be found on iTunes U at http://itunes.tcd.ie.

Talking Voices has just completed the recording and post production of the Irish Internet Association Internet Congress 2008 podcast over 14 episodes. This is the third year in a row that we have been engaged to create the podcasting of the all day national conference and breakout sessions.

In previous years the podcast was sponsored by Microsoft, this year Rabo Direct came in with a sponsorship package that sees this annual fixture on the internet calendar get recorded for attendees & non attendees alike.

Commenting on the conference podcast Brian Greene of Talking voices said “We listen to it & record it, so you can enjoy it in the future. Many conference attendees from all over the country now know that the entire conference and breakout sessions are recorded so they can be assured not to miss anything, while been able to spend valuable conference time networking!”

The conference cast is available on the IIA website or via xml subscription & in iTunes.