Some technological changes – like the TiVo or iPod – take the world by storm. It's hard to get away from their sweeping impact, and everyone is well aware of how these devices change your life.
Then there are the more subtle changes – the ones that sneak up on you. That's the case with a couple of cell phone features that you may or may not have caught.
First, the alarm function. Our last two Tech Polls confirmed what we saw in "The Bedroom Project" – more and more people (especially under 30) use their phones as their alarm clocks. While that's convenient to be able to custom set whatever bells, bongs, or songs you wish to wake up to, it also translates into fewer of those venerable AM/FM clock radios sitting on nightstands. And that means that less people will be waking up to your morning show.
Second, the keypad. (The keypad?) One of Bill's clients mentioned that on his BlackBerry, the number keys no longer have those corresponding letters. It's all QWERTY, so the way that phones used to mimic touchtone phones appear to be going the way of the stegosaurus.
What does that mean? Well, if your request lines have always been 298-ROCK and 298-ROLL, or 354-WRIF, you might want to rethink that logic because more and more of your listeners simply won't know what to dial.
We may be able to solve the first problem with V2.0 of our jacAPPS radio apps. We've created an "alarm clock" feature that allows users to wake up to the stream of their favorite station.
As for the second problem, that's a bit more difficult. Just like how stations rely more on frequency to help listeners find their way around, radio phone number methods of referral are going to need to be rethought, too.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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