[Collaborative R&D] The Difference Engine – putting access in people's pockets
Ente: Innovate UK
Scadenza: 2025-03-30
Importo max: 39.743 EUR
Paese: GB
Descrizione
Deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind and partially sighted audiences often cannot access performances in small/middle-scale theatres, in unusual venues or involving experimental/site-specific/mobile work, and are effectively excluded from many cultural experiences. The Difference Engine (DE) is an innovative, portable, flexible, affordable system that uniquely enables small scale, touring companies, venues and festivals to make their work accessible.
We will create a new business model for the DE, developing it so it is distributabled on a subscription basis, via downloadable software, which companies/venues can install immediately on their own hardware. Currently it runs from a laptop/ or raspberry pi with touchscreen, and a router, making it clunky to use in many situations, and the editing functionality is quite basic. We will redevelop the broadcast (content delivery) system so it can run from a tablet, with an updated interface, making it much easier to use, in more situations: no longer reliant on fixed power sources, it will be particularly suitable for outdoor/site-specific/promenade performances, walks, and other non-static events, which are currently poorly served.
We will add audio description as a core function alongside existing captioning, so both can be run from the same system, by a single operator, at the same time. We will add a 'takeaway' function for sharing rich programme content with audiences.
To achieve this, we need to completely rewrite the broadcast system software, (which cannot currently work with just a tablet), create updated mobile (audience) apps, and a new online subscription service, testing these with a selection of touring companies/venues, and audience users, and researching user support needs.
Despite its limitations, there is more demand for the DE in its existing format than we can currently service. This new version/new delivery mechanism will allow us to realise this latent potential: meeting demand, and increasing our customer base across Coventry/Warwickshire and the UK, enabling more audiences to access performances and events.
This in turn will generate sufficient income for us to reinvest in ongoing improvements and system development. As a small largely grant-funded organisation, it is currently not possible to keep development and hire running concurrently (we do not have in-house developer expertise, or enough hire income to keep a software developer on retainer): increased income will enable us to work consistently with a developer.
We also know that the DE has potential for other sectors and we will explore this, particularly with heritage and tourism partners in the sub region.
Settori: Collaborative R&D
Vai al bando originale
Registrati gratis su Bandolo per trovare bandi compatibili con la tua azienda.