Sam Starling

Adventures into RadioDNS

Recently, I’ve been looking into the RadioDNS project – specifically the RadioVIS side of things. For the uninitiated, RadioDNS is a project that allows radio devices to obtain extra information about the station or programme that you’re listening to. The project defines the way that these services can be discovered by devices, and broadcast by providers.

The RadioVIS part of things is where it gets interesting as it allows for a station to broadcast images in a slideshow-esque fashion, as well as text (just like the existing DLS text on DAB). Global and the BBC are already signed up as supporters of the project, and are starting to broadcast data to go along with their services. At the time of writing, Global’s Capital FM were the only station to be running a public RadioVIS service as it’s the one used in their iPhone app.

There are a huge number of possibilities here, and Capital have quite a few nice ideas up and running — including updates on the status of Tube lines, the latest news and chart recaps. Mind you, it’s no surprise that they lead the way, as the Creative Technology team at Global in Bristol are the ones behind the bulk of existing development.

I’m in the middle of getting to grips with the framework and it’s underlying technologies at the moment, and intend to write up a ‘dummies’ guide to getting started and writing some simple Python applications around it within the next week or so. It should be very interesting to see what content people decide to deliver using RadioVIS as the project gains momentum, so I’ll be keeping my eyes (and ears) peeled.

Crouch End Running

So I’ve taken to the roads again because a couple of my friends convinced me to do the Great Yorkshire Run, which takes place in Sheffield on Sunday 6th September. I didn’t really carry on running after the Great Manchester Run back in May, but it’s good to have another goal. I managed it in 1:13 last time, so anything better than that and I’ll be happy this time around.

A beautiful day in Crouch End today, so went out for a run around Priory Park and then Alexandra Park. Ended up at about 6.6km for the whole thing, coming in at about 50 minutes or so. I’ll put that down to the Farmer’s Market crowds hampering me on the way in to Alexandra Park, and the long slog of a hill you get as you run up to the Palace. Anyway, after a poke around Google Maps it looks like there’s a relatively gentle uphill run from the office to my flat that’s around 7.5km and skirts around Shoreditch Park and Finsbury Park. I’ll see how my pace fares there and report back!