[cr-india] On the airwaves... for a dollar or two

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

On the airwaves... for a dollar or two

http://www.tacticaltech.org/node/225

Hello, hello! Low-powered radio is one of the few technologies even the 
poor can afford. It's also about the easiest medium to create content for. 
In the midst of all the FLOSS talk, there was space at Asia Source for 
some other (non-software) relevant technology or two.

These points were made by Dr Arun Metha today, when he showed Asia Source 
participants how it was possible to build a simple FM transmitter with 
inexpensive components.

"Speech is natural. It is efficient. It's five times faster than typing, 
and ten times faster than writing. It's flexible. We don't have to touch 
or see anything to create speech. For people like the blind whom I work 
with this is the only option," he said, paraphrasing the words of Victor 
Zae.

Dr Metha, an electrical engineer and computer scientist who has studied in 
India's prestigious IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) network, has been 
one India's early telecom- and cyber-activists.

He whipped out the tiny radio transmitter that he had hacked together. 
"(To be effective) we need to be able to make a radio station anywhere 
where a radio or TV is being repaired with easily available parts. This is 
not rocket science," he said, as his demo took by surprise those attending 
his talk.

  Audio, he pointed out, is far more democratic than other media. You don't 
need to be terribly well educated to make your point. "Trade unions and 
women in bazaars can also make their voices heard," he said.

Metha's low-powered transmitter has a broadcast range of just 
half-kilometre. He also discussed the possible relationship between the 
Internet and radio.

He pointed out that the Indian laws allow for 50 milliwatts cordless 
microphones to be used, but not for low-powered radio transmitters of the 
same strength. "If the President of India can use this technology, why 
can't poor women in a village do the same thing (to share useful 
information)?" he questions.

Patrice Riemens narrated experiences from Europe, with radio. Other 
participants from Indonesia mentioned how they had set up one during the 
recent tsunami disaster.

Says Metha: "My current passions include village radio and software for 
the handicapped." He has written the eLocuter software, to meet the 
communication needs of the noted scientist Professor Stephen Hawkings. See 
http://radiophony.com/html_files/download2.html for software details and 
for an article see 
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20040607/indiacomputes01.shtml

Metha's websites are at http://www.indataportal.com, 
http://www.holistic.com and http://www.radiophony.com -- the last contains 
plans for building a low-cost radio transmitter. 
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Frederick Noronha (FN)                    Nr Convent Saligao 403511 GoaIndia
Freelance Journalist                      P: 832-2409490 M: 9822122436
http://fn.swiki.net                       http://fn-floss.notlong.com
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