Podcasting/Text-based Blogging Benefits and Detractions

Podcast Benefits

People with visual impairments can hear podcasts.

If you can’t read, you can still listen to podcasts.

Podcasts feel more personal since you can actually hear the voice of a human being.

You get a better feeling of the context of the message in podcasting (for instance, it’s easier to sense sarcasm).

If you spend a lot of time online, listening to podcasts will not damage your eyes, whereas reading a lot of text can.

Podcast Detractions

People with hearing problems may not be able to utilize podcasts (unless a transcript is available).

When time is limited, it may be easier to stop reading a text-based post and later return to where you left off, than to stop in the middle of a podcast and find your place again (if you didn’t take note when you stopped it).

Text-based Blogging Benefits

You don’t need to be able to hear.

It may be easier to stop and resume reading a text-based blog.

You don’t need a high bandwidth to access text-based blogs.

You don’t need speakers.

You don’t need certain media software.

Text-based Blogging Detractions

If you can’t read, you can’t utilize text-based blogs.

If you can’t see, you can’t utilize text-based blogs.

Reading writing feels less personal than listening to a speaker.

Writing gives less context than speaking.

Reading on computer screens for extended periods of time can hurt your eyes.