BitTorrent is a network protocol for sending files across the Internet. Specifically, it is a "peer to peer" (aka "P2P") protocol with no central hub and where each user involved is both sending and/or receiving parts of a specific file(s).

Videos and audio files are large. Thus, they require special tactics to distribute them via the Internet. Traditional methods require powerful servers and tons of Internet bandwidth -- in other words, it costs a lot of money.

However, by taking advantage of free software innovation, using the BitTorrent protocol we can basically eliminate that cost.

Most people think of peer to peer file sharing in terms of downloading commercial music and Hollywood movies. Millions of people use BitTorrent for just that. But BitTorrent can be used to send any type of files.

Think of the possibilities:

• The next speaker you have could be recorded and distributed to anyone on the Internet.
• You could videotape protests or local news and spread the information worldwide to anyone interested.
• Your meetings or other events could be similarly recorded -- either audio and/or video -- and made available.

Like it or not, Americans are TV people. Video has a huge impact. With the rise of Apple's iPod, listening to audio has grown. You can easily take advantage of these cultural trends.

What do I need?

Many people have digital cameras or camcorders that can record audio and/or video in a digital (i.e. computer) format. That addresses the recording issue.

Editing the video/audio would be nice, but it's not required. Apple has its iMovie software which is easy to use, and similar software exists for Windows computers.

Most importantly, you need a few people that will upload your video/audio material.

In the BitTorrent world, these people who upload material are called "seeders". To seed, you need to run a BitTorrent "client program" on your local computer and create a "torrent" file for the video/audio file(s) you want to seed.

You would then upload your torrent file to a BitTorrent "tracker". (For example, here is one tracker.)

From that point, the client program would start uploading/seeding the file to other people. Those other people both download the file(s) and also upload to others.

That's about it. A seeder should use an Internet connection faster than a dial-up connection (i.e. should use a cable modem or DSL link) but there is zero cost involved here -- the software is free and the use of our tracker is free.

So the question becomes: Are you doing things that other people would be interested in?

If so, then let's tell some others!