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Coming Soon, Roadcasting
ByteWoopy writes "from Wired.com 'Stuck in traffic and sick of Howard Stern, you may soon be able to tune in to the music collection of the person in the car in front of you. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are developing an ad hoc networking system for cars that would allow any driver to broadcast music to any other vehicle within a 30-mile radius. Developed by a group of current and former master's students at the Human Computer Interaction Institute, the Roadcasting project would allow drivers to stream their MP3 music collections by Wi-Fi or similar technology to any other vehicle within range that is equipped with compatible hardware and software.
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How is this different from, say, a handheld radio with microphone input hooked up to an ipod? Also, I would expect it would be unusable in NYC because advertisers would just broadcast on every channel possible.
The RIAA is bound to hate it, and drive themelves into seizures trying to regulate/kill it.
That's nothing. (I'm not sure on the point I am about to make, but) wouldn't a Federal department (on broadcasting) have a problem with this? With a 30 mile radius, the car is basically a mobile radio station... subject to regulation.
just my $0.02
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
I disagree...if they can really pull off 30 miles, that's a big deal (that covers big parts of most major metro areas), especially to radio.
Morning and evening drive-time are the biggest money-makers for radio (it's almost the only time many people listen to the radio anymore). If you give people the ability to stream indie feeds into their cars, drive-time suddenly gets much more competitive, especially if your cost to stream to cars approaches zero.
My only concern is: who's allowed to be a stream source? Anyone? Or just certain "approved" bodies? If it's anyone, I'm there.
I've driven to Defcon a few times and there's a somewhat official convoy which travels from California to Vegas, this convoy has it's own radio station which is usually better than anything you can get on commercial stations ;-)
;-)
I remember once getting left behind - my then girlfriend (now wife) wanted to get in&out burger, and we had to catch up. Being a DJ I'd submitted a mix to desertcrossing radio, and it was scheduled to be played before we got to vegas. So I spent the next hour or so racing to catch up and get back in radio range. We did get back in time to hear my slot, and we were greeted with the sight of 50+ cars all string out on a hill in front of us with their hazard lights blinking.
Easily my favourite Defcon moment
Seriously though, Stern is an enemy of the FCC and Clear Channel, which makes him a friend in my book. He drives conservative politicians and religious freaks nuts, too, which is just gravy. If he were on all day I'd listen to him, especially when he starts talking about the people who hate him and how hypocritical and ridiculous they are.
fnord.