[cma-l] "Platform Neutral"

[Ian Hickling]

The term "platform neutral" is not really appropriate and is unfortunately all too typical of phraseology invented to serve a purpose which either by design or in ignorance isn't the right one.

We don't need "platform neutral".

In technical terms of chipset design, that isn't possible.

We need "platform comprehensive".

But we can't achieve that until all the likely platforms are identified and internationally agreed!

As we're in a communications medium, we should be communicating accurately.

 

Ian Hickling 
Partner

transplan UK

 





 
> From: tlr at gairloch.co.uk
> To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:00:37 +0000
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Platform neutral radio sets
> 
> Further to my previous posting (as if that weren't long enough already!), I 
> note that RadioCentre is describing the 'platform neutral' initiative as 
> being a commitment to:
> "devices that provide platform neutral tuning, and equal access to radio 
> stations whether they are on FM or digital"
> 
> As I said, to be truly platform neutral means to me also supporting the 
> various track naming and interactive features, rewind/pause options etc as 
> far as
> practicable, regardless of transmission technology. These things are all 
> perfectly feasible technically on existing FM broadcasts as well as DAB, 
> mostly simply needing more software and a simple digitizer, but it seems to 
> me that DCMS and RadioCentre are looking at simply providing a uniform list 
> of station names for selection.
> 
> I guess that is the most important aspect, but it would be a rather 
> half-hearted implementation of platform neutral in my view.
> 
> And when the minister gave the idea his backing in Parliament this week, 
> there was no mention of just how it would be ensured that all, or even most, 
> DAB radios offered even this limited implementation.
> 
> Alex 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> cma-l mailing list - cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> 
> Community Media Association - www.commedia.org.uk
> _______________________________________________
> 
> To manage your mailing list subscription please visit:
> http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
 		 	   		  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20100115/e0e7bc10/attachment.html>