LISNR, one of the leading tech companies in ultrasonic Data-over-Audio, plans on replacing QR code scanning and NFC interactions with a communication protocol called Smart Tone. This technology will make use of speaker broadcasts to devices with an active microphone. The receiving device sends back tone to your personal device, such as a smartphone, hence enabling two-way data exchange.
The CEO and founder of LISNR, Rodney Williams (photo above) stated that the world is becoming a place where we need to be connected to the world and vice versa. Williams says that the long-term strategy is to create an environment where messages can be delivered through Data-over-Audio.
LISNR makes use of a sound wave called Smart Tone. This frequency cannot be heard by ninety-eight percent of the population for those that do hear it, it will sound like white noise. This tone is sent out at a frequency range of 18.7kHz to 19.2kHz.
How does that work?
The Smart Tone signaling is divided into three steps; the preamble, header and the payload. The preamble alerts the device while the header holds metadata about the payload and how much data the payload contains. The payload is the actual data from the tone.
The data is decoded through a High-Frequency Linear Array Transducer or simply “HFLAT.” What could you do with that? An app will be installed on customer’s smartphones, or a link would be sent through direct messages instead of scanning QR codes from phones at ticketing booths.
Eric Allen, the president of this startup company, stated that last year they were developing LISNR to connect signals through Bluetooth. Now the company has managed to develop LISNR talkback, with device-to-device connectivity. The company dares to differ by challenging the world to think out of the box about sound and data. According to Allen sound has more than one use. It could be the start of a new kind of data network.
YouTube: LISNR Ultrasonic Data Transmission
Photo credit: TechCrunch / LISNR
Source: LISNR / Sarah Perez (TechCrunch)
