Source: Harman
Live shows have ground to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A way that musicians are trying to earn some revenue during this time is by hosting live streams or socially-distanced, drive-in shows. Samsung subsidiary Harman takes advantage of the situation and has developed new in-car audio technology to improve these live show experiences. Aptly called the Live Interactive Virtual Experience (L.I.V.E.) platform, Harman claims it can bring "remote and socially distant concertgoers the ability to directly interact with the venue, the artist and the music," whether from their cars or their homes.
It has a two-way setup that can even let fans "cheer, make song requests, vote for the next song played, or request that a specific instrument be featured in the next solo," so the interactive experience of live shows is still somewhat intact. Performers can respond accordingly as there is a "fan space" hub that can give them a sense of the "energy, enthusiasm and applause from fans directly to the artist via in-venue screens and lighting elements."
Harman doesn't want to limit L.I.V.E. to the in-car experience. The company hopes to bring it to apps for mobile and desktop, too. Fans can potentially select different camera angles to view and use Harman's Personi-Fi tech to customize the audio to their preferences. Running on 5G, it can also give you real-time access to information like the artist's bio, lyrics, and even the instruments featured in the songs.
Aside from L.I.V.E., Harman has the new Personal Audio Headrest for cars specifically, which promises to offer an immersive, customizable surround sound experience with 3D spatial audio. Harman claims it achieves "the most detailed levels of acoustic personalization." According to the company, automakers can already add this accessory into their vehicles.
Source: Engadget
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