Internet audio enhances the internet experience in many ways. Let me explain.
More than likely, we all remember waiting for what seemed like days for audio to download! These days, computers have tools built in to accomodate audio equipment more easily and the Net is able to handle large files better and better each day. Microphones, speakers, headphones, and inputs for audio media generally plug right in and work with applications already installed. Open source applications provide an alternative to your computer's programs. One can use the computer for telephony, radio broadcasts, tele/videoconferencing and audio recording (including podcasts) with a small amount of training.
Offering audio for your Internet communications often sends a clearer message than traditional text. In education, appealing to alternative learning styles with audio instruction is a powerful tool and is hard to match. Face it, audio gets your attention. If it is used tastefully and offered as an option in your Net work, so to speak, you will be offering a much more professional front but adding that bit of fun. I always wonder what the audio has to offer!
To add sound to your Web site, the obvious first step is to create or find the sound file you want to add. It then needs to be edited, compressed, and incorporated into your site. I have touched on these steps in my course to help you understand how to get started using audio on the Internet.
If I can be of any help to anyone or answer questions not addressed here, please contact me. Thank you and let me kick this off with an audio intro I prepared for my Webcast Academy class as an example of blending music with voice for a personal message.