Daniel Jones... Chirp: Over-the-air Acoustic Networking

Chirp encodes information in acoustic signals, enabling devices to communicate with each other using everyday speakers and microphones. We will give a whistle-stop history of sound and signalling, give an overview of the technology and acoustics behind Chirp, and describe how it's possible to use sound as a communications medium even in the noisy and challenging acoustic environment of an active nuclear power station.

We'll then kick off a workshop in which you will be able to get your computer chirping using our brand-new version 3 Python SDK. Bring a Linux or macOS computer that has a speaker and microphone.

• About Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones heads up R&D at Chirp (https://www.chirp.io/), exploring the unique affordances of audio as a medium for over-the-air data transmission. His audio DSP experience spans 15 years, including sound installations and public lectures at the Science Museum, Southbank Centre, Barbican, Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, IRCAM, and the Royal Institution for Great Britain. Sound works including Living Symphonies (with James Bulley), a touring outdoor sound installation that grows in the way as a forest ecosystem, and Phantom Terrains (http://phantomterrains.com/) (with Frank Swain), a mobile framework that allows hearing-impaired users to hear Wi-Fi signals. He developed the innovative 3D audio engine for mobile games Papa Sangre and The Nightjar (nominated for two BAFTAs including “Audio Achievement”), and was a fellow on the Mozilla Webmaker programme.

• Schedule:

7pm: Arrive for chat and networking. Pizza & drinks available courtesey of DisplayLink.
7.30pm: Daniel Jones presents his talk & workshop
9pm: Open invite to anyone who wants to move the conversation to the pub

• What to bring

To participate in the workshop, bring a Linux or macOS computer that has a speaker and microphone. Linux VM on a Windows PC will also work as long as audio is available. Don't worry if you do not have a suitable platform, we will pair or form small groups to esure that everyone gets a chance to participate.