For a DIY project that could only happen in radio, Burley Stapley devised a talk timer using a Raspberry Pi, an Air 4 console, and a little help from ChatGPT.
Stapley is the Corporate CE for Blanchard River Broadcasting in Findlay, Ohio, and the timer is for WBUK-FM jocks, who needed a timer to help keep on-air chatter in check. He started with a Raspberry Pi, the GPIO pins which easily interfaced into the station’s Air 4 logic. Then he experimented with Python scripting to determine when the jock turns the mic on, and if so, triggered a timer to start counting the seconds thereafter.
Presenting that information onto the Raspberry Pi’s TFT display proved more challenging, in part because it required a user interface. Stapley decided to consult ChatGPT, and he received some good AI advice. TKinter, a standard GUI toolkit for Python, proved to be just what he needed to quickly create a functional timer display that could show the length of the break more accurately, including brief pauses.
Last we heard, he’d gone on to modify his code and Raspberry Pi to add in APIs for grabbing the local temp and time for the jock. ChatGPT was helpful in figuring out how to get the API key to get local current weather data to the Raspberry Pi.
The DIY project cost a mere $80 and four hours of engineering time.
You can read more about this DIY project in the August 14, 2024 issue of Radio World, page 18 and 19.
Company
600 Industrial Dr.
New Bern, NC 28562 USA
Main office +1 (252) 638-7000
Fax main office +1 (252) 637-1285
We are open Monday through Friday,
8:30 AM to 8:30 PM EST
Company
600 Industrial Dr.
New Bern, NC 28562 USA
Main office +1 (252) 638-7000
Fax main office +1 (252) 637-1285
We are open Monday through Friday,
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST