NPR Labs and Communications Research Centre Canada won Technology Innovation Awards from the NAB at the recent convention.
“While technological innovations are evident throughout the product displays on the NAB Show exhibit floor, we’re particularly pleased to showcase technological developments in media that haven’t reached the marketplace yet,” said NAB Senior Vice President of Science and Technology Lynn Claudy, according to NAB’s Radio TechCheck newsletter. He also said NAB has experienced “a growing field of competitive entries.” This year’s winners were chosen among nominations received by March 4.
In the International Research Park, NPR Labs presented its results to date on its captioned radio system for use by hearing-impaired users to access live radio programming and emergency alerts. It also showcased its Personalized Audio Information Service, which can capture reading service broadcasts and index them for on-demand playback by low-vision and blind listeners. The broadcast research entity also presented its advanced IBOC interference propagation mapping application, intended to produce coverage maps for HD Radio stations.
Dr. Yiyan Wu of the CRC, seen at right in the first photo, is shown with NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith. Right: Mike Starling accepts the honors for NPR Labs from Smith.
The Communications Research Centre showcased what NAB says is the first FM RDS radio application that can be distributed through the Android market, an application that also enables “hybrid” radio broadcasts, converging on-air and online radio services.
CRC demos included its audio loudness scheme, part of an ITU loudness measurement algorithm; it also demonstrated a 2D-to-3D video conversion technology generating high-quality 3D video at low cost. CRC also showcased software-defined radio for broadcast applications.
NAB presents the awards to organizations that bring advanced communications technology exhibits and demonstrations of significant merit to the show. Technologies demonstrated cannot include commercial products offered for sale prior to or at the convention.
Association President/CEO Gordon Smith presented the awards at the NAB Technology Luncheon, held in conjunction with the Broadcast Engineering Conference.
