VoiceOver is a hyperlocal social radio network built on 3g or 4g network that everyone in a community can listen in on and contribute to. By enabling participants to connect to, discover and engage with their communities, VoiceOver reduces loneliness and social isolation and reimagines what a 21st century community radio could be. It combines a state-of-the-art technology with a user-friendly, accessible and familiar object.

The tool is similar to a normal radio - a companion that is always there - broadcasting the voices of the neighbourhood, local news, event updates or general community chit-chat. But unlike normal radios, the members themselves respond to each others’ messages, and eventually even can create their own radio programme for their community.

VoiceOver might be deployed in surrounding neighbourhoods before breaking ground on a new urban development, extending the network into site as the development is occupied. Or it can be deployed in an existing community as a neighbourhood scale communication infrastructure.

Features

• 1–3 month event for a group of 20-30 people
• Uses VoiceOver kits distributed to participants for use in their homes or businesses
• Simple content/broadcast configuration tool enables direct management by local community representatives

Expected Outcomes

As a result of the event, participants will:

• Make new connections within a community and feel more connected to people they don’t already know
• Have a reinforced sense of bonds and identity within a possibly indistinct community
• Participants contribute a significant amount of time and effort to VoiceOver. In Brighton over a 4 week period, 30 participants contributed 850 audio posts that lasted over 8.5 hours.

Use Cases

• Elderly communities
• Communities with poor broadband penetration