BBC unveils 'perceptive radio' at Thinking Digital conference

An innovative ‘perceptive’ radio was showcased by the BBC at the Thinking Digital Conference in Gateshead.

The radio, which changes content according to the listener’s location, weather, and time of day, is thought to be the first in the world of its kind.

Speaking to hundreds of assembled delegates at the conference, held at The Sage, Adrian Woolard and Ian Forrester from the BBC unveiled their creation.

Adrian, helped create the BBC Future Media North Lab at MediaCity in Salford and leads the delivery of a world class research and development facility.

He was joined onstage by Ian Forrester who works for the BBC’s Research and Development north laboratory, he is currently researching into Future Narrative and Storytelling using what he terms as ‘Perceptive Media.’

Perceptive Media aims to mash broadcast technologies with personal electronics and the Internet in order to create a more visceral and compelling experience.

Speaking at the conference, Ian said: “Imagine if there was a radio that could perceive who you are and what you were doing.

“We created it, the very first perceptive radio, we believe in the world.

“It will perceive what you are doing and it will use that to change the narrative of what’s happening.

“The whole thing will be open hardware, open code, and there will be more details coming soon.”

Adrian said: “The variables are about time of day, weather and different locations.

“If you live in somewhere like London or Manchester you probably wouldn’t notice, but if you live in Grimsby and the people in the story start talking about places close to you, you get a different resonance to it.”

Next in the line-up was Tomorrow’s World presenter, Maggie Philbin who urged delegates to become role models for the next generation of technologists.

Maggie, who recently joined BBC One programme, Bang Goes the Theory after eight years with Tomorrow’s World, spoke at the conference to promote the organisation she co-founded, ‘TeenTech.’

The organisation holds events across the UK to inspire young people in science, engineering and technology.

Maggie urged the audience to encourage young people, and especially girls, in considering a career in technology, science and engineering.

Speaking to the delegates, she said: “One of the things we do at events it to ask the young people to draw a picture of a scientists, technologists and engineers and out of 300 only eight drew a woman.

“Although on one hand, they are using technology and love it they still don’t really understand what it’s like to work in these fields, it’s a crying shame lot of talent going to waste

“You are their role models the people who work in technology.

“Young people need to see this kind of role model because this is where the opportunities are going to be.

“Talking to kids is no good, you need to get them doing things, how would it feel to work in these industries.

“Tomorrow’s World was an inspiration and it did inspire me, I had no idea how rich the area of technology was and how many jobs I would’ve loved to have done.

“I just want to really ask each and every one of you to reach out to young people to get out there and do something.”