How Acaudio’s Innovative Audio Summaries Are Changing the Way Research is Shared and Accessed.
By Acaudio
Is there a real need to revamp research communication?
As research progresses, so must its communication. Recently, there has been a growing recognition of the need to make research more accessible and impactful beyond traditional academic publishing. One reason for this is the need to make academic research more accessible to a wider audience. Traditional academic publishing can be complex and challenging to access for many individuals, including policymakers, practitioners, and the general public. Research findings often remain confined to academic journals or conferences, limiting their societal impact.
Moreover, with the vast volume of research being published daily, it is not surprising that some findings may be discovered too late by professionals in various industries. These professionals may not have the time to browse through numerous academic libraries to learn about the latest research relevant to their work. As a result, the knowledge from this research may be deemed outdated, missing the opportunity to be translated into evidence-based practices that could benefit many people.
Engagement is also a critical aspect of research communication. Humans have unique learning styles and capabilities, and traditional written text may not always be engaging for everyone. In technical fields, complex jargon can make it difficult for individuals new to the topic to understand the research. To ensure that academic research can achieve its maximum societal impact, these differences need to be taken into consideration.
So, how can audio address these needs?
One crucial benefit of leveraging audio for research communication is its convenience. Audio summaries are concise and engaging, making them easy to listen to on the go, during commutes, or while multitasking. This accessibility makes research more reachable for busy professionals, policymakers, practitioners, and the general public. Acaudio, our platform, also includes niche playlists that group research on specific topics from around the world, enabling researchers to explore and discover relevant research in their field and beyond, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration.
Secondly, audio has the potential for increased engagement. Audio engages multiple senses, allowing for better retention and comprehension compared to reading text alone. This has been supported by numerous research studies dating back almost a decade. For example, a study by Schweppe and Rummer (2019) investigated the impact of audio information on memory performance and found that participants who received audio information in addition to visual information had significantly higher retention and comprehension compared to those who received only visual information (Schweppe and Rummer, 2019). The human voice adds a personal touch, making research more approachable and relatable. In addressing inclusivity, audio also has the potential to reach wider audiences, including those with visual impairments, language barriers, or varying levels of literacy.
So, what’s the verdict?
In conclusion, the future of research communication is evolving, and audio is playing a pivotal role in increasing research impact. Acaudio’s innovative approach to leveraging audio for research summaries is transforming the way research is shared and accessed, making it more convenient, engaging, and inclusive.
Reference:
Schweppe, J., & Rummer, R. (2019). Exploring the Impact of Audio Information on Memory Performance. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Computer Supported Education (CSEDU 2019), 2, 409-416.