Global Issue

High-tech tool for clubber mobiles
Friday, July 8, 2005 Posted: 1436 GMT (2236 HKT)

LONDON, England -- In cities where there are lots of nightclubs to choose from it is hard to know what the music is going to be like until you have paid and gone inside, but not any more.

A new piece of software has been designed that will allow clubbers to check the playlists for different nightclubs on their mobile phone before they leave the house.

The idea is the brainchild of an undergraduate team of students from the University of Sheffield, who have been working on the project for six months.

"Our design helps indecisive clubbers choose the best night out by simply checking out the music planned for that night in their town or city's clubs," says Nicola Walton, who is part of the university team.

Called "geMuse," the new application uses Bluetooth or third-generation (3G) web services and will allow you to download samples of the type of music being played on any night, in any club, to your phone or PDA.

The team's work was recognized at the British final of the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2005, where it won second place, beating over 1,200 entries from universities across the UK.

The first prize went to a location-aware blogging tool called "One Reach," this allows traveling students to create a web log or blog of their journey using a 3G mobile phone.

Parents and friends at home can then view their progress and blogs, pictures and videos on a Web site and keep in contact with them.

All competing university teams worldwide are vying for a share of the $215,000 prize money, and to win the Imagine cup. It is also a chance to kick-start their careers in software design.

Reference: http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/biztech/07/08/clubber.mobiles/index.html

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