sonear radio transmitter by ross dowd allows users to broadcast personal anecdotes

sonear radio transmitter by ross dowd allows users to broadcast personal anecdotes

‘sonear’ is a network of small radio transmitter devices that can be discreetly embedded in public spaces, allowing users to locally broadcast their own stories and experiences of the area. the design allows users to upload the content they wish to share, which could be anything from personal anecdotes, poetry, or general everyday observations. 

sonear is a network of small radio transmitter devices

the device was developed as part of a final year project by ross dowd who studied industrial design at the national college of art and design in dublin. the device operates by broadcasting on short range FM frequencies using simple radio transmitter technology.  the content is uploaded onto the board via a microsd card, and broadcast at a 20 metre radius by an inbuilt microcontroller. the transmitter is housed within a colourful abs tube, no larger than a small test tube.

the device can be discreetly embedded in public spaces

‘sonear’ presents an opportunity for people to creatively engage with their environment. by providing a new means to learn and discover stories and information, people can then take these experiences and findings with them to share with others. users can program the devices to locally broadcast any content they see as relevant, engaging or meaningful. throughout the course of this project, a selection of podcasters, historians and poets were commissioned to record a piece about a place close to their hearts, after which it was uploaded onto a sonear transmitter and left embedded on the relevant street in dublin city.

video courtesy of wilson antihype

sonear transmitters broadcast at a radius of 20 metres

the small sonear transmitters allows for discreet embedding

passerby tuning into south william street, dublin

early radio transmitter prototype

functioning streamlined radio transmitter

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: hollie smith | designboom