As the Internet of Things becomes normalised by our acceptance of automated communication between interconnected devices we would like to take a peek into a future where sound plays an integral role in the mode of communication. This of course is ironic as we might recall the early modems that facilitated for many thier connection to the brave new world of the Internet.

The IT as a Utility Network+ (ITaaU N+) is running a scoping workshop for interested parties to examine the research to date and future opportunities for the Internet of Sound and Audio. The event will be limited to 20 people with talks, discussions, demonstrations and perhaps even performances. By Internet of Audio Things, we can perhaps think of the devices at the edge of networks that interact with humans by playing, speaking, alerting,  listening or even monitoring. By Internet of Sound Things we can widen our investigation to examine devices and services that are linked through audio channels. This can encompass a variety of techniques: descriptive, where music can be identified; additive, in the form of audio watermarking; and coded, where systems such as Google’s Tone deliver documents locally encoded as audio. This presents interesting challenges and opportunities for security and accessability when sharing information in plain hearing. Of course using sound as a platform introduces a whole raft of issues around aesthetics, health and safety for humans as well as other animals.

So the purpose of this workshop is to introduce some of these ideas, explore the areas that are being addressed and attempt to capture the scope of areas that warrent further investigation either through ITaaU or by others.

We will be hearing from various projects, services and companies represented by participants including an overview of one of the key startups in this domain, Chirp (http://chirp.io) by founder and Head of Product, Patrick Bergel.

Venue: Meeting Room, OERC, Oxford

Programme

10:00 – 10:30 coffee and registration

10:30 – 11:00 welcome and introduction to participants and the IT as a Utility Network+

11:00 – 11:30 background to the Internet of Sound and Audio

11:30 – 12:30 key issues and areas for investigation identified so far…

12:30 – 13:30 lunch

13:30 – 14:00 – break out groups on priority areas identified in the morning session

14:15 – 15:10 – reporting back and plenary discussion

15:10 – 15:30 coffee

15:30 – 16:00 wrap up and follow up actions

Links to further information on the Internet of Sound and Audio Things:

• http://techcrunch.com/2015/07/26/the-internet-of-sound/
• http://googleresearch.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/tone-experimental-chrome-extension-for.html
• http://www.multichannel.com/blog/mixed-signals/video-audio-data-and-internet-things/388783
• http://www.econais.com/applications/audio-video-applications/
• Things that talk: Using sound for device-to-device and device-to-human communication
• Google Chrome Tone – first look video
• Why Some Are Turning to Sound for Mobile Payments and More – MIT Technology Review
• Inaudible Sound as a Covert Channel in Mobile Devices
• http://chirp.io – Chirp is a way to share links using sound.

“sound communication between devices” pulls up many other interesting articles

Please do let us know about any dietary requirements.