Saved
davidjennings's Archive on May 06, 2008
Description
More details of the 'modular hardware' approach to radio with built-in social networking. confirming the BBC link.
Clipping
Olinda is an extendable and customisable radio. On the side of Olinda is a studded, magnetic connector for plugging in expansion modules. This is an open, standardised hardware API - with defined connections and defined protocols for the data. It's a bit like the expansion port on an iPod, and this makes the radio modular. It's a hardware version of the APIs around websites like Flickr, del.icio.us or Twitter - which, by virtue of their APIs, are all surrounded by a rich ecosystem of supporting sites and products. These plug-in modules for Olinda can use the API to find out information like which station the radio is tuned to and the current LiveText, and also lets them send instructions to the radio. This enables anyone; the manufacturer or third parties, to create add-on modules which should all work with any radios implementing this API. And we think this could create a secondary market for DAB add-on products which will benefit both manufacturers and consumers.