Dialup Radio is a tool that distributes human rights and independent media via telephone. Brief radio-style audio files are uploaded and managed via the Dialup Radio website. These files are immediately available to callers who phone the project phone number. Our software automatically generates interactive voice response (IVR) menus that enable callers to navigate audio content using their telephone keypads. Dialup radio works with any telephone, and can be adopted for a variety of activist campaigns.
Dialup Radio has been designed specifically to meet the needs of human rights activists in the developing world. The system can be installed locally or may be operated across national borders. Particular attention has been paid to system security and to minmizing costs of operation.
Project HistoryDialup Radio was first conceived in the spring of 2006. An initial prototype was completed later that year. Initial testing and ongoing collaboration with human rights activists have lead to further refinements. Pilot testing was completed fall 2007.
Technology
Dialup Radio consists of a web-based content management system written in Ruby/Rails, and an Asterisk-based telephony server.
All software is open-source, and will be released to the public in the fall of 2008.
Demo
You can dial in to the demo on 1-206-456-0817.
There is an online demonstration of the content management system here.
Login as "duradmin", password "duradmin". The demo will revert to default settings every 30 mintues or so.
Source Code
Dialup Radio is licensed under the CC-GNU GPL. You can download the sourcecode here.
Contact
For additional information, please contact tad at media dot mit dot edu.