As Internet connectivity becomes more pervasive, broadcasters are finding new and different ways
to link broadcast signalswith related content on the Internet. Under a “collaborative project” called RadioDNS (http://radiodns.org), a method has been developed for Internet-connected radioreceivers to derive relevant Internet domain names from a radio station’s signal using information already being transmitted, without requiring the inclusion of some new signal component or new data field.

RadioDNS is a technology process that standardizes the lookup of an Internet domain name from standard metadata broadcast on a variety of different radio broadcast systems including analog FM utilizing the Radio Data System (RDS) data subcarrier, HD Radio digital radio (both AM and FM band), and two European digital radio systems, DAB (www.worlddab.org) and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM, www.drm.org). The Radio DNS process will allow a radio receiver with Internet connectivity to convert existing broadcast parameters such as station frequencies, RDS Program Information (PI) codes, and HD Radio Transmitter Identifier (TI) codes into a resolvable fully qualified domain name (FQDN). Once the FDQN has been resolved, the receiver (using the Internet) can query a RadioDNS database (currently under development) and ultimately determine the Web site with relevant content for the radio station being received.

In September, a new radio receiver was announced in the U.K., which is the first to incorporate a visual, image-based application called “RadioVIS” which is based on the RadioDNS framework. British radio manufacturer PURE (Hertfordshire, U.K., www.pure.com) in September introduced the Sensia, “the world’s first high resolution DAB digital and Internet-connected radio,” with a unique, large color touch screen which delivers a state-of-the-art and intuitive user-interface. The football-shaped Sensia is shown in the photo below and a variety of screen shots from the Sensia are shown at left. PURE has indicated that the Sensia will be available from the end of October and will cost about $400.

Sensia’s large, 5.7 inch, 640 x 480 high resolution color touch screen gives users a unique way of interacting with Internet and radio content including podcasts, DAB and analog FM, a growing set of custom PURE “apps” such as weather, news, Picasa, Facebook or Twitter (see screenshot above), and new material such as station slideshows which are accessed using RadioDNS technology and delivered to the receiver over the Internet. Sensia is also a media streaming device, enabling users to listen to music stored on a home computer or network storage device using WiFi connectivity. Detailed specifications on the Sensia are provided in the table at right.

Sensia has a sophisticated touch screen interface which allows users to view and interact with the
radio in an iPhone-like fashion: scrolling and spinning lists, tapping to select, sliding controls and swiping to change views. Users can choose between a multi-panel and a full screen view. The screen consists of a visual panel for viewing Apps, station slideshows or album artwork; a list panel for scrolling through lists of radio stations or music stored on a PC; a “now playing” panel and a control bar for operating Sensia. Sensia also connects to The PURE Lounge, a radio and media portal (www.thelounge.com) which acts as an index to selected Internet audio content and where users can register their radio as well as save and organize favorites. Also available from The Lounge and via Sensia is a unique selection of PURE Sounds which can be used in conjunction with the “sleep” and “wake” features of the radio, to “...relax you to sleep or wake you in a positive frame of mind.”

An optional rechargeable battery can be used with the Sensia to support portable listening. Sensia also comes with an RF remote control which allows users to control the device from up to 30 feet away without direct line-of-sight between the radio and the remote.

Additional information about the Sensia is available on the Internet at www.touchmyradio.com.

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