ArtSound’s Silver Memories project

For so time now, ArtSound has been developing a new service for the aged: the ArtSound Silver Memories service. In 2009/10 the ACT Government’s Office for Ageing and the Belconnen Rotary Club provided us with the funds for a developmental trial to explore how a separate audio service could be provided to aged people and retirees in retirement villages, hospitals, hospices and other places.  ACTEW Corporation also assisted with generous funding to establish a new studio for the new service, which was launched by ACTEW's Managing Director Mr Mark Sullivan, at a function in 2011.  The trial tested new cutting-edge network technology allowing high quality audio to be streamed to multiple sites via the internet, without the need for recipients of the service to use computers.  Apart from technical tests, the trial also developed a conceptual program format and tested the idea on a number of potential receiving sites and the outcome was very positive.

With the January 2012 offer by the ACT Government of an additional grant under the ACT Seniors Grants and Sponsorship Program (2011-12), and thanks to the collaboration of Infinite Networks, our broadband internet partner, ArtSound will now be able to proceed to stage 2 of the project and establish a permanent service at an initial ten sites in the ACT. 

We aren’t the only ones keen to provide this type of service: 4MBS-FM in Brisbane has a very popular service operating using FM sub-carriers - an ancillary audio service using "spare" capacity in their FM signal, as well as an internet streamed version. 

Silver Memories intends to provide programs aimed at people who, for whatever reason, have restricted access to social services and entertainment. Maybe they live in a remote area, or are confined to their home or care facility because of their age, because they are ill or infirm. Content includes entertainment, health, education and financial information specifically tailored to the audience. 

Silver Memories is not a broadcasting service. It will be delivered via the Internet as a streaming digital audio service (known as audio over IP) to selected locations.  We are using some boxes about the size of a pack of cards that connect directly to the internet, and route the service to a wired or wireless local area computer network, or to a stereo or public address system without a computer. A low-power FM transmitter can also be used to distribute the service to recipients within a small area like an aged-care facility or a retirement village. These transmitters don’t have to be licensed, and the signal can be heard using a normal FM radio receiver. 

For further information about the Silver Memories Project, contact ArtSound's General Manager, Chris Deacon.