In San Francisco, a new device for Vaiba Monitoring has been unveiled – the BOP Spotter project created by technologist Riley Walz. The device consists of a microphone fixed on a street in the Mission area, which listens and identifies popular songs. Walz installed a box with an Android phone powered by solar energy on a pillar, which periodically sends audio samples to the API SHAZAM service to determine the songs playing on the streets.
Describing the BOP Spotter as similar to the Shotspotter system, Walz explains that instead of detecting gunshots, the BOP Spotter system tracks music. The project focuses on monitoring culture rather than capturing criminals, according to Walz.
Shotspotter is a system of microphones used to detect gunshots in various cities in the United States. However, concerns have been raised about its accuracy, with instances of mistaking other sounds like fireworks or car exhaust for gunshots. In Chicago, where Shotspotter was heavily used, authorities decided not to renew their contract with the company.
The BOP Spotter project monitors popular music played by people on the streets from cars or while walking. Walz was inspired to create the project by his habit of using Shazam to identify songs at parties, in stores, or outdoors.
The operation of the device involves the phone connected to a solar panel, recording sound in 10-minute blocks in “flight mode,” and then transferring the data to a server via Wi-Fi. The audio files are divided into 20-second segments and sent to the API Shazam for identification. Walz estimates the total cost of the project to be around $100.
The BOP Spotter website provides a continuous stream of recognized songs, along with links to Spotify and Apple Music. The site also displays the device’s battery level in real-time, which Walz claims is four times higher than the phone requires for operation.
Although Walz does not disclose the exact location of the device, he suggests that it wouldn’t be challenging to find for those familiar with the area. He hopes that the device will continue to operate for several years.