Grants/iPad Application for CC Internet Radio
Describe the project you are proposing as clearly as possible in just five sentences.
This project will develop an iPad application for Creative Commons internet radio.
The application will function as a “Media Centre” for the CC internet radio station, All Tribes Radio (ATR).
This Media Centre will provide access to the ATR website, email, podcast downloads, audio stream when available, FB page, and links to related CC music sites.
Potential revenue sources will be explored (e.g. Apple App Store sales, custom application design, and consulting) to improve ATR’s economic sustainability.
The feasibility of developing open source code for other platforms (e.g. Android) will be examined, and such code made available to the CC community at no charge.
Detail the tangible project output (e.g., paper, blog post, written materials, video/film, etc.; this would be in addition to the final written report that successful grant recipients will be expected to deliver to CC at the conclusion of the project).
A Media Centre application for CC Internet Radio will be designed, constructed, and marketed on Apple's iPad platform. The feasibility of developing open source code for the application on other platforms (e.g. Android) will also be examined.
Describe the community you are targeting. How would the project benefit the community?
The immediate target community consists of the ATR audience (6,000+ unique listeners per month in 120+ countries; 1,800+ FB fans). We also provide local community internet radio services (e.g. Voice of Nosara news) to the rural Costa Rican town of Nosara (150+ listeners), and relay United Nations Radio from New York.
The primary goal of ATR is to promote world peace through promotion of CC music. Toward this end, we provide media exposure to CC musicians around the world. We also promote and provide education in regards to CC.
The Media Centre application has the potential to increase the size of our international audience.
It is also expected that the larger CC community (e.g. internet stations and musicians) will benefit from free access to the application source code.br />
ATR was one of the first internet stations to play only CC licensed music. Since 2008, we have developed as a respected source for CC music worldwide (see the Mailbox page on our website). Thanks to donations from our listeners, we continue to move toward our goal of economic sustainability.
ATR is operated solely by myself, Ken Dunn. I have a PhD in Psychology, with a special interest in human-machine systems interactions, including user interface (UI) design. I am also a registered Apple Developer, founder of Syntech Computer Consulting, and a Creative Commons musician. As a result, I possess the necessary skills, experience, and motivation to lead this project.
How will you measure and evaluate your project’s impact - on your main participants? Other contributors? On the larger community?
Immediate project impact will be evaluated by monitoring application downloads, number of listeners, podcast downloads, emails, social media interactions, and other available internet metrics.
The Media Centre Application for iPad will be designed for use by any internet station or musician. Impact on the larger community will be evaluated by monitoring requests for application source code. The source code will be free to members of the CC community.
How many participants do you expect to be involved in your project? How will you seek and sustain their involvement?
The project will be co-ordinated by Ken Dunn, who will also be responsible for the content, design, completion, and marketing of the application. A number of computer programmers may also be employed for coding of the application. There are an increasing number of Internet-based iPad programming resources which will be researched in terms of their appropriateness for completion of the current project.
Describe how your project will benefit Creative Commons' mission to increase the amount of creativity (cultural, educational, and scientific content) in "the commons".
The Media Centre Application for iPad will provide easy access to song metadata, including artist, title, album, and artwork). This, in addition to direct links to CC music websites will result in increased media exposure and donations for CC musicians, thereby promoting the creation of CC music.
Describe what technologies and tools your project will use. What kinds of technical skills and expertise do you bring to the project? What are your technical needs?
A variety of computer hardware and software will be required for this project. In terms of hardware, an Apple MacBook computer, and an iPad are required (both of which are already owned or leased by ATR). The software necessary is also currently under licence by ATR (e.g. Apple SDK, iMockups).
Ken Dunn (the author) has a doctoral degree in psychology, with several years experience in computer UI (user interface) design and programming. However, a computer programmer with specific knowledge and experience with the Apple SDK and it's application to iPad (e.g. XCode, C++) will be required.
What challenges do you expect to face, and how do you plan to overcome them?
The success of Apple’s iPad has resulted in a rapidly evolving platform for innovative software design. There is already considerable commercial interest and investment in iPad application development. This will present a challenge to the current project, since applications similar to (and possibly better than) the Media Centre for iPad will likely be developed during the tenure of this project. This challenge will be overcome by adopting a flexible, process-oriented model of application design, learning from other projects, and incorporating new features of the iPad as they become available.
How do you plan to sustain your project after the Creative Commons funding has ended? Detail specific plans. How do you plan to raise revenue to continue your efforts in the future?
Media Cente for iPad will be submitted to the Apple App Store for consideration. If successful, it will be sold for a modest sum (according to current market value). Apple will retain 30% of sales, with the remaining 70% to ATR. If there is sufficient market demand, an open source version for other platforms (e.g. Android) will also be developed and sold. All versions of the application will be made available at no charge or on a donation basis for non-commercial CC applications.
How can this project be scalable, or have a scalable impact?
Where possible, the application will utilize a modular, plug-in design. Thus, the application can be scaled to meet individual station and/or musician needs.
What resources and support do you expect Creative Commons to provide to your project to ensure its success (if any)?
It would be helpful to consult with CC at various stages in the process, in order to assist in the creation of a product with relevance to the CC community. In addition, promotion and marketing assistance upon completion would be welcome.
Describe how your organization currently communicates with its community members and network partners. (100 words)
At present, ATR communicates with members and network partners (e.g. Voice of Nosara, United Nations Radio) using a FB page (1800+ fans), website (5000+ hits since reset 3 months ago), YouTube channel (new), podcasts (41 one-hour episodes produced within the past six months, no download metrics available). We also streamed audio continuously between August 2008 and January 2010 (6000+ unique listeners per month in 120 countries). We are currently researching the potential of mobile technologies (e.g. iPhone/iPad, Android) in communication and the delivery of content. The current project proposal is the first initiative in researching this new direction.
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