Venture Beat columnist Carin van Vuuren has written an article about how brands can make their mobile smartphones a better experience than anything else being offered. Interestingly, it is pointed out that the number of mobile phones will outnumber humans this year. This is the call to creating a must-have smartphone, because the number of devices is only going to increase.
The next generation of smartphones needs to increase the connectivity of social networks. Users want to be able to share anything and everything, from pictures and news articles to a promo code or restaurant review. Another important element is progressing the use of GPS. Relevant content should be triggered when it is nearby. Then, all the content that is being pushed to the user should be personalized by their activity.
All of these features are great, but they don’t mean as much if the device has poor user experience design. Whatever a user wants or needs to do on a phone, they want to be able to do it as fast as possible. Simplifying all actions is a must. The final piece of advice offered in this article is the integration of mobile-only promotions. The article points to Starbucks as the perfect example of this being done properly. They use text messaging, code scanning, and mobile payments to simplify the experience. The goal of all of these improvements is to eliminate the limitations.
Radio-waves are the basis of telecommunications, occupying the wavelengths of a single millimeter to 100 kilometers. Among their electromagnetic compatriots, radio-waves have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequency. But it is within this low frequency that tiny alterations, minor modifications in the wave cycle, determine whether one outputs the cordless home phone, or the nearby police dispatcher. Radio broadcasting lies in this range of frequencies, with listeners getting two choices: AM or FM.
Before choosing its radio broadcasting method, the station must know it’s purpose. If its message must be spread far and wide across the land, then AM, or amplified modulation, is best. Able to travel 100s of miles long, weaving around mountains or other large structures, AM shines. However, what’s gained in range, is taken away in signal fidelity, thus a noticeable increase in audio static and interference. On top of this, overpasses, bridges, or simply walking around in a shopping mall wrecks havoc on the AM wave. Its low frequency, lying between 535 to 1,700 kilohertz, is unable to push through such barriers.
A radio station that requires high fidelity audio, however, would choose FM, or Frequency modulation. Gone are the static interference, because a frequency between 88 and 108 megahertz improves the signal-to-noise ratio. With the desired signal high and level of background noise low, comes a clear audio feedback. Also, because the waves emit so frequently, they easily navigate through those structures that AM could not. However, frequency and wavelengths are inversely proportional. Thus FM radios stay local, their need for high frequencies shortening their wavelength, and with that, their range of transmission. In addition, mountains and other large objects silence them altogether. Traveling around large obstacles is a characteristic of AM’s far-reaching waves, not FM’s short and frequent tides.
When broadcasting, if the sound quality of the message is more important than the distance it travels, FM takes precedence. If the message could perform with lower quality, and must reach as many radios as possible, AM is the better choice. Regardless, the chosen modulation will remain subordinate to the needs of the station.
Radio has gone through significant changes in its long history, from the pre-television era to the first mobile car radios. The technology has a widespread impact on everything from politics to the changing genres of popular music. Although new technologies are constantly replacing the uses of modern radio, it will remain a constant staple modern life for many years to come.
In 1885, Henrich Hertz proved that electricity could be transmitted through electromagnetic waves, and began to research ways to send and receive these waves. Although Hertz had yet to prove the applicability of his research at the time, his work became the foundation of modern radio.
Guglielmo Marconi engineered the first device capable of complete radio transmission, in his first public experiments in 1895; Marconi’s device was able to transmit signals at a 1.5-mile distance. At this point telegraphs, which were based off of the technology of radio waves, were making a big impact in naval communication and navigation.
The first programmed radio broadcast took place on Christmas Eve 1906, by Reginald Fessenden and featured bible passages and the Christmas song, “O Holy Night.” This was made possible due to the vacuum tube detector, and is the same technology today’s AM radio is based on.
The first radio news program was broadcasted on August 31, 1920 by 8MK in Detroit, Michigan. The first college football broadcast took place in 1921 featuring West Virginia vs. Pittsburg. As radio programming, and amateur broadcasters began to expand due to the growing accessibility of the technology, the Federal Radio Commission was established in 1927 to regulate industry. Radio had grown from a source of communication to a popular form of entertainment, as radios became a staple in the American home.
Bell laboratories established cellular radio technology and caller handoff in 1947, while in 1954 Regency developed the first battery powered transistor radio.
Although modern media platforms like television and the internet are replacing radio in certain functionalists the technology still provides important and accessible information to millions of people a day.
It is not difficult to start an Internet radio station. While there are a few basic things one has to keep in mind, it should only take a few hours to set up a station. Anyone looking to get started must possess the basic equipment. For starters, one needs to possess a computer with enough power to run the applications required.
Any aspiring DJ needs to have the right gear. Of course, one will need a computer with a Windows or Mac operating system. Other than a computer, everything a person needs will be software related. Though, a microphone may be an accessory many people will desire. By having a microphone, an aspiring DJ can make announcements about upcoming songs. Without a microphone, one can still broadcast music, but it will not be possible for the radio station owner to speak to the audience.
After lining up the proper equipment, an aspiring DJ needs to obtain a few software programs. For starters, it is necessary to download a software program that plays music. Of course, this step should not be a problem as most people already have an audio player on their computer. Next, one must download a program to broadcast the music.
The next step is to set up a server. It is easy to set up a home computer into a server to broadcast music all over the Internet. Keep in mind, broadcasting music will use a significant amount of bandwidth, so it may be wise to upgrade the Internet speed. Then, one must configure their broadcasting software.
As long as someone has an Internet connection and functioning computer, they should be able to broadcast music on the Internet. Depending on where the aspiring DJ lives, they will need to understand laws regarding music streaming. Anyone with basic computer skills should be able to set up their Internet radio station within a few hours.
It is both a hobby, enjoyed by millions of “hams” worldwide and a vital service, coming through in tough moments (some being life or death situations calling for safety) in the failure of regular communication systems. By definition, according to Wikipedia, amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, wireless experimentation, emergency communication, and the exchange of messages for non-commercial purposes. Amateur radio is essentially about connections and communicating, for whatever specific purposes to the particular operators. Organized in three regions, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) officially represents and coordinates amateur radio.
Origins of amateur radio can be traced back to the 19th century, and the service itself is about as old as radio in general. The first radio callback list, published in 1909, titled The First Annual Official Wireless Blue Book of the Wireless Association of America included 89 amateur radio stations among a list of wireless telegraph stations in the United States and Canada. Amateur radio has a rich history, with operators making significant contributions to society, including research that founded new industries. Operators come from various walks of life, including students, truck drivers, missionaries, and politicians. Spanning across different walks of life, income groups, and passions, operators share a common knowledge of wireless technologies, regulations, and principles. To be granted a license, prospective operators are examined on key concepts including radio equipment, safety, and the regulations of the government granting the license.
There have been instances of lives being saved when skilled hobbyists/operators acted as emergency communicators to assist in the rendering of aid. This was the case during the September 11th attacks, Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita, as well as other disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes. Whether its making friends across the seas, assisting in emergencies, or communicating with the International Space Station, amateur radio operators have an interesting way to fulfill interests and make connections with others that share their passion. The amateur radio service is now more widely used than ever in history.
