[Reader-list] Ghumakkad Baaja at Sarai

[Mitoo Das]

City as Studio : EXB 10.03   

Presents

== Ghumakkad Baaja ==

An open collaboration between Prayas Abhinav, Hemant Babu, Ram Bhatt and 
Nishant Sharma

A demonstration of an open and unregulated way of doing audio transmissions
 along with discussions about transmissions, public networks and 
"selling air".



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Can we be active broadcasters and not just passive consumers ?
Can we create and share audio/video content in a widely accessible way?
Could there be a platform much like satellite T.V, but in an on-the-move 
outdoor friendly format without needing a multi-crore license?
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6:30 p.m, Saturday, 26th June, 2010
Sarai-CSDS, 29, Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054



We plan to use an amplified and meshed version of 2.4 ghz (Wi-fi) 
transmission. This micro-wave segment of spectrum is not radio-waves. We 
are doing this through high powered 4 Watt ERP transmitter-antennas, at 
city scale, to make unregulated open-to-air audio broadcasting. We are 
also developing a low-cost device which can receive these audio 
broadcasts on the move. Leveraging the potential of an open community of 
content creators, existing professionals, we will be populating multiple 
channels of community, local and entertainment content on this 
infrastructure.


India has a heavily regulated and censored radio-spectrum use policy for 
broadcasters. There are no ways for people to create and share audio 
content in a widely-accessible way. Internet-radio is not localized due 
to bandwidth access. Community radio is very restrictive, low power and 
does not allow news and political content.

The radio industry is dominated by commercial music syndicates and 
public bodies which restricts the kind of content possibilities. In 
comparison, other media (like TV, print, Internet) has much more 
diversity to offer. Audio platforms have remained mostly one-way, and 
have not exploited opportunities of p2p broadcasting networks.

A meshed Wi-fi local network (wireless ethernet) offering audio content 
on a low cost device, so that news, local content and entertainment in 
audio form can be accessed widely. The use of amplified wi-fi bandwidth 
delivers high speed, interactive audio content city-wide.

Our solution will provide a platform much like satellite TV, but on 
audio and in a on-the-move, outdoor-friendly format. The solution will 
inherently be capable of being used for p2p data exchange and audio 
streaming. This will enable people to be active broadcasters and not 
just passive consumers of information.



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City as Studio: EXB 10.03 is showing works by:

Prayas Abhinav
Shamsher Ali
Love Anand
Hemant Babu
Konrad Bayer
Ram Bhat
Nabina Das
Neelofer
Gaigongmei Gangmei
Goutam Ghosh
Deepankar Gohain
Niha Masih
Suraj Rai
Ish S
Nishant Sharma


Realised by Iram Ghufran, Amitabh Kumar
Produced at Sarai Media Lab, Sarai- CSDS
June 2010


Exhibition Timings:
11 am to 5 pm
Monday to Friday from June 18 to July 14, 2010


For details on the works, go here - 
http://www.sarai.net/practices/media-forms/city-as-studio-exb/exb-10-03