TalkShoe
Encyclopedia
TalkShoe is a Web 2.0
Internet radio
/podcast
ing site that uses a Java
chat
client in conjunction with a conference call
bridge to allow users to host or participate in live on-line talk radio
shows called "community calls" or simply a "call" for short. A call can be syndicated and downloaded after the live show ends as a podcast. Community call hosts were paid a monthly fee based on the quantity of listeners their shows received until the abrupt end of the revenue sharing in May 2008.
TalkShoe's name is a play on "talk show," using Ed Sullivan
's pronunciation of the word "show" as "shoe."
The TalkShoe headquarters and the dial-in access point for its conference call bridge are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
. TalkShoe suggests the registrant use his own phone number for ease of remembering, but registrants with privacy
concerns may use any number they wish as long as it has not been taken. The purpose of registration is so that the chat client can display the correct screen name to represent each dialed-in user.
A community call is started by using TalkShoe.com's web-based interface to create and categorize the show. A call may cover any subject matter the host desires, but may not include forbidden content such as pornographic material. The call is assigned an ID number that is used by participants to dial in. The host may then schedule a session of the show and optionally send email or SMS text
notifications to invite guests. Once a session is scheduled, the host and callers may dial in up to 15 minutes before the show is scheduled to begin. Callers may connect to a show using the TalkShoe Live! chat client, telephone, or both.
There are two components to a call experience: Chat and Voice. Calls were previously called Talkcasts.
TalkShoe allows users to use one of two available clients. One is a Java-based chat client called TalkShoe Live! Pro, currently available for Microsoft Windows
and Mac OS X
platforms (though a Linux
native version is promised soon). The client requires Java
1.5. The other is a Web-based client known as TalkShoe Live!.
The software allows hosts to start or stop the recording of their podcast, and to mute or unmute the text and/or voice chat ability of callers to the show. It allows callers to listen to the show in streaming audio if they have not phoned in (the stream is automatically muted when the software senses a voice connection from the same user), or to set a flag indicating they wish to be unmuted (that is, allowed to speak "on the air") if they have phoned in. It allows both host and callers to chat via text-message to each other, and to see who is currently and no longer connected to the show.
Unlike most chat
/instant messaging
applications, which follow a vertical scrolling paradigm, The TalkShoe Live! Pro client text chat scrolls horizontally, placing chat bubbles in a row next to the screen name of the person who typed them. It also uses threading in which responses to a given chat message take on the same color as that chat message. This is intended to allow easy tracking of conversations by users who are not able to give the text conversation their full attention. The Web-based TalkShoe Live! client uses a more traditional vertical scrolling paradigm.
The text chat is usually used for out-of-band
conversations among show participants, the exchange of URLs related to show content, and questions or responses to the host or guests from listeners who are muted or unable to call in. It is not necessary for listeners or guests to use the chat client in order to connect by phone; however, they will be unable to use the chat client's features such as text chatting or requesting to be unmuted.
telecommunication company. Nelsen intentionally kept the site's launch low-key, wishing to build site traffic slowly by word of mouth
. Early talkcasts were by local Pittsburgh personalities, including radio talkshow hosts who simulcast
via TalkShoe as another method of broadcasting their show and taking call-ins.
In November 2006, talkshow hosts Amber MacArthur
and Leo Laporte
decided to start hosting their Net@Nite show via TalkShoe. The large increase in traffic to TalkShoe, both in terms of callers into the Net@Nite show and new listeners/hosts who were introduced to TalkShoe and started shows of their own, has caused TalkShoe to put a number of planned features on hold in favor of increasing server capacity. On Sunday, December 3, the Net@Nite show with guest Kevin Rose
of Digg
was the busiest live show on record, with 930 total streaming or chatting participants.
On January 27, 2007, Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa, who was the first Democrat to run for president in 2008 came onto Talk Shoe and spoke for fifteen minutes about his plans if elected president. He appeared on the then Regular Guys Show hosted by Kurt Hurner. Vilsack would come back onto TalkShoe, now on the Kurt Hurner Show on August 12, 2008, this time as a representative of the Barack Obama for President campaign. Vilsack took calls from listeners for half an hour.
On March 12, 2009, Chris Riddle, Chaz Burge, and Mike Kerr interviewed CNN anchor Rick Sanchez
on the Riddle Me This show. Traffic to the show page ran up rapidly during the period after the interview.
On January 24, 2010 Natalie Cunial from CBS' Big Brother 9
was the hour long guest on Logan's Run Live, hosted by Bruce "Logan" Pringlemeir. Due to the promotion from Talkshoe for this broadcast, traffic to the show ran up with numerous live callers for the interview. The final numbers were nearly 300% the normal show for Logan's Run Live.
On July 22, 2010,a new Wordpress Plugin was developed to reflect the Talkshoe Dynamic Badge or Widget. You can find out more about this new plugin at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-talkshoe/
On July 22, 2010, a new Dynamic Widget was released to reflect the Talkshoe Dynamic Badge or Widget for blogs and web sites. You can find out more about this new widget at http://www.talkshoesupport.com/widgets/
On July 27, 2010, TalkShoe was recognized as one of the “2010 Hottest Pennsylvania
Companies” by Lead411.
Web 2.0
The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...
Internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
/podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
ing site that uses a Java
Java (Sun)
Java refers to several computer software products and specifications from Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, that together provide a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform environment...
chat
Chat room
The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by mass media to describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous conferencing...
client in conjunction with a conference call
Conference call
A conference call is a telephone call in which the calling party wishes to have more than one called party listen in to the audio portion of the call. The conference calls may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call, or the call may be set up so that the called party...
bridge to allow users to host or participate in live on-line talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
shows called "community calls" or simply a "call" for short. A call can be syndicated and downloaded after the live show ends as a podcast. Community call hosts were paid a monthly fee based on the quantity of listeners their shows received until the abrupt end of the revenue sharing in May 2008.
TalkShoe's name is a play on "talk show," using Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
's pronunciation of the word "show" as "shoe."
Administration
TalkShoe was founded in April 2005. It is currently privately-owned.The TalkShoe headquarters and the dial-in access point for its conference call bridge are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Calls
All TalkShoe hosts are required to register at the TalkShoe.com site in order to participate, however guests can listen to a show via the web client without registration. Through the registration process, a user chooses a screen name and a 10-digit unique PINPersonal identification number
A personal identification number is a secret numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Typically, the user is required to provide a non-confidential user identifier or token and a confidential PIN to gain access to the system...
. TalkShoe suggests the registrant use his own phone number for ease of remembering, but registrants with privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
concerns may use any number they wish as long as it has not been taken. The purpose of registration is so that the chat client can display the correct screen name to represent each dialed-in user.
A community call is started by using TalkShoe.com's web-based interface to create and categorize the show. A call may cover any subject matter the host desires, but may not include forbidden content such as pornographic material. The call is assigned an ID number that is used by participants to dial in. The host may then schedule a session of the show and optionally send email or SMS text
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
notifications to invite guests. Once a session is scheduled, the host and callers may dial in up to 15 minutes before the show is scheduled to begin. Callers may connect to a show using the TalkShoe Live! chat client, telephone, or both.
There are two components to a call experience: Chat and Voice. Calls were previously called Talkcasts.
Chat
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
platforms (though a Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
native version is promised soon). The client requires Java
Java (Sun)
Java refers to several computer software products and specifications from Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, that together provide a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform environment...
1.5. The other is a Web-based client known as TalkShoe Live!.
The software allows hosts to start or stop the recording of their podcast, and to mute or unmute the text and/or voice chat ability of callers to the show. It allows callers to listen to the show in streaming audio if they have not phoned in (the stream is automatically muted when the software senses a voice connection from the same user), or to set a flag indicating they wish to be unmuted (that is, allowed to speak "on the air") if they have phoned in. It allows both host and callers to chat via text-message to each other, and to see who is currently and no longer connected to the show.
Unlike most chat
Chat room
The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by mass media to describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous conferencing...
/instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
applications, which follow a vertical scrolling paradigm, The TalkShoe Live! Pro client text chat scrolls horizontally, placing chat bubbles in a row next to the screen name of the person who typed them. It also uses threading in which responses to a given chat message take on the same color as that chat message. This is intended to allow easy tracking of conversations by users who are not able to give the text conversation their full attention. The Web-based TalkShoe Live! client uses a more traditional vertical scrolling paradigm.
The text chat is usually used for out-of-band
Out-of-band
The term out-of-band has different uses in communications and telecommunication. In case of out-of-band control signaling, signaling bits are sent in special order in a dedicated signaling frame...
conversations among show participants, the exchange of URLs related to show content, and questions or responses to the host or guests from listeners who are muted or unable to call in. It is not necessary for listeners or guests to use the chat client in order to connect by phone; however, they will be unable to use the chat client's features such as text chatting or requesting to be unmuted.
Rating system
TalkShoe features a voluntary rating system for its talkcasts; a talkcast may be rated A for All Audiences, PC for Parental Control, or EL for Explicit Language. Hosts are given the responsibility of rating their own shows; shows that are improperly rated may be reported to TalkShoe by its users.History
TalkShoe was launched in June 2006 by Dave Nelsen, a former employee of the FORE SystemsFORE Systems
FORE Systems was a computer network switching equipment company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company is now part of Ericsson.-History:...
telecommunication company. Nelsen intentionally kept the site's launch low-key, wishing to build site traffic slowly by word of mouth
Word of mouth
Word of mouth, or viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person by oral communication. Storytelling is the oldest form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others of something, whether a real event or something made up. Oral tradition is cultural material and...
. Early talkcasts were by local Pittsburgh personalities, including radio talkshow hosts who simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
via TalkShoe as another method of broadcasting their show and taking call-ins.
In November 2006, talkshow hosts Amber MacArthur
Amber MacArthur
Amber Dawn MacArthur is a Canadian television and netcasting personality. MacArthur is currently the co-host of BNN's App Central....
and Leo Laporte
Leo Laporte
Léo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry....
decided to start hosting their Net@Nite show via TalkShoe. The large increase in traffic to TalkShoe, both in terms of callers into the Net@Nite show and new listeners/hosts who were introduced to TalkShoe and started shows of their own, has caused TalkShoe to put a number of planned features on hold in favor of increasing server capacity. On Sunday, December 3, the Net@Nite show with guest Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
of Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
was the busiest live show on record, with 930 total streaming or chatting participants.
On January 27, 2007, Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa, who was the first Democrat to run for president in 2008 came onto Talk Shoe and spoke for fifteen minutes about his plans if elected president. He appeared on the then Regular Guys Show hosted by Kurt Hurner. Vilsack would come back onto TalkShoe, now on the Kurt Hurner Show on August 12, 2008, this time as a representative of the Barack Obama for President campaign. Vilsack took calls from listeners for half an hour.
On March 12, 2009, Chris Riddle, Chaz Burge, and Mike Kerr interviewed CNN anchor Rick Sanchez
Rick Sanchez
Ricardo León "Rick" Sánchez de Reinaldo , known professionally as Rick Sanchez, is a Cuban-American journalist, author and former TV news anchor...
on the Riddle Me This show. Traffic to the show page ran up rapidly during the period after the interview.
On January 24, 2010 Natalie Cunial from CBS' Big Brother 9
Big Brother 9 (U.S.)
Big Brother 9 is the ninth edition of the American reality television series...
was the hour long guest on Logan's Run Live, hosted by Bruce "Logan" Pringlemeir. Due to the promotion from Talkshoe for this broadcast, traffic to the show ran up with numerous live callers for the interview. The final numbers were nearly 300% the normal show for Logan's Run Live.
On July 22, 2010,a new Wordpress Plugin was developed to reflect the Talkshoe Dynamic Badge or Widget. You can find out more about this new plugin at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-talkshoe/
On July 22, 2010, a new Dynamic Widget was released to reflect the Talkshoe Dynamic Badge or Widget for blogs and web sites. You can find out more about this new widget at http://www.talkshoesupport.com/widgets/
On July 27, 2010, TalkShoe was recognized as one of the “2010 Hottest Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Companies” by Lead411.
External links
- TalkShoe front page
- Robotech_Master's Talkshoe Page - Provides information on VOIP clients that can be used to call TalkShoe.