RadioActive allows large-scale audio-based conversations on mobile phones. It functions as a mobile audio forum, where users leave posts by recording voice messages. Other users can navigate through, listen to, and respond to these messages using the audio or optional visual interface. RadioActive's chat space is persistent, allowing users to drop in and out of discussion as they wish. The combined interface is unique for persistent audio chat spaces, and provides an easy way to navigate at a global level. An automated playback mode also allows users to put the device in their pocket and listen passively.
RadioActive's prinicipal focus is to support public discussions within an urban context. By becoming the communications foundation to the eLens project, RadioActive chat rooms can be created for specific buildings or sites tied to visual markers, dynamically formed social groups, and disparate communities.
Press
Slashdot · PC Magazine · eLens/RA in El Pais (spanish nytimes) · eLens/RA in Digg · eLens/RA on spanish blog · Turbulence · We-make-money-not-art
Papers
Zinman, A., RadioActive: Enabling Persistent Mobile Communication for Groups. Alt.CHI 2007, April 28 - May 3 2007, San Jose, CA
Zinman, A., RadioActive: Enabling Large-Scale Asynchronous Audio Discussions on Mobile Devices. MS Thesis, MIT, 2006
Zinman, A., Donath, J. Navigating Persistent Audio. Proceedings of CHI 2006, April 21-24 2006, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Zinman, A., Donath, J. RadioActive: enabling mobile-based audio forums. CHI 2005 Beyond Threaded Discussion Workshop.