LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 5, 2019--Using a new user experience (UX) design for advanced alerting and ongoing emergency information, the  Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN) Alliance  will demonstrate the power of ATSC 3.0 to integrate official emergency information with local television news coverage at the 2019 NAB Show, which begins April 8 in Las Vegas.

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The new AWARN User Experience interface suggested for future emergency broadcasts. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new on-screen interface and two use cases built on an actual emergency will spotlight how robust multimedia emergency messaging – before, during, and after an emergency – can improve disaster resilience for communities and the nation. At NAB 2019, in addition to the AWARN Alliance’s presence in Futures Park, AWARN will be highlighted in the ATSC-CTA-NAB “Riding the Road to ATSC 3.0” exhibit in North Hall and Central Lobby and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency’s booth C3330.

The use cases shown for the first time at NAB 2019 were produced with support of  NAB PILOT  in association with News-Press & Gazette’s KEYT-TV in Santa Barbara, California and the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. The scenario is based on an actual “debris flow” event on February 2-3 that forced a mandatory evacuation and closed the 101 Highway.

New Focus-Group Tested User Experience Design

AWARN’s demo also will debut the new focus-group tested on-screen design. To improve over initial prototypes for AWARN, the Alliance assembled a team of experts in social science, television design, and emergency management facilitation. In partnership with leading emergency managers, they conducted workshops and formative usability testing last fall in Riverside, California, Maricopa County, Arizona, and New York City. Participants included emergency managers and other public safety officials from multiple jurisdictions, who collectively are responsible for disseminating alerts to more than 40 million people. Research findings were shared with Alliance members.

AWARN Alliance Widening Focus

John Lawson, executive director of the AWARN Alliance, said the AWARN Steering Committee has unanimously directed the expansion of AWARN’s mission to include the integration of official alerting and on-going news and information, which will be demonstrated at the NAB Show.

“Widening of our focus to include a wider range of emergency information, both before and after an alert is sent, represents an evolution of AWARN’s role. We see the potential to work with TV news departments in the months ahead and develop a framework for using ATSC 3.0 to serve our communities like never before,” he said.

The alert use case includes alert banners, hazard and evacuation mapping, shelter locations and other critical information accessible by viewers through on-screen icons and the TV remote control. The UX layout includes a picture-in-picture window for optional station news content or continuing programming. A post-event use case includes power outage, hazard zone access maps, and live press conferences with public safety officials.

New Tools for Stations

A highlight of the demonstration, developed through NAB PILOT’S open source initiative with Triveni Digital, will be ATSC 3.0 alert and information integration. This next-gen technology will enable broadcasters to seamlessly manage alerts and associated emergency information templates. The tool will provide a consistent look and feel to viewers, based upon the AWARN UX focus-group findings, along with interactivity, augmented media in live feeds, multi-lingual alerts, and other advanced features. The demos will be displayed on 4K Ultra HD TVs from LG Electronics.

Hybrid Broadcast-Broadband Integration from Japan

Also exhibiting in the AWARN booth in Futures Park will be the IPTV Forum Japan, represented by T-NET Japan and Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ). They will demonstrate an advanced emergency information on-screen portal developed for the hybrid integration of over-the-air broadcasting and broadband in smart TVs. Developed for the highly effective Japanese emergency communications system, T-NET and IIJ plan to adapt the advanced information system for use with ATSC 3.0 transmission. The Forum is a member of the AWARN Alliance, and T-NET Japan also is sponsoring the exhibit.

AWARN at the NAB Show

• AWARN will be in booth N1435 at Futures Park in the North Hall.
• Lawson will moderate a session,  Connected Cars and Next Gen TV: Infrastructure Decisions Will Be A Key to ATSC 3.0 Adoption, at the In-Vehicle Experience Pavilion & Theater, N3811, on Monday from 4:00 to 4:30 pm.
• Lawson also will speak from the ATSC Stage on Tuesday of the Show at 12:15 pm.
• AWARN will be included in:
  • ATSC-CTA-NAB “Riding the Road to ATSC 3.0,” North Hall & Central Lobby.
  • FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems ( IPAWS ), booth C3330.
• Also see AWARN member demonstrations of advanced emergency information capabilities at Digital Alert Systems (N4813), OpenZNet (N1637), NAB PILOT (N1037 & N1232), Triveni Digital (N3908), and Unisoft (N4131), among others.

AWARN Fact Sheet

AWARN Alliance

The Advanced Warning and Response Network (AWARN) Alliance is a cross-industry, international coalition formed to create the world’s most advanced emergency messaging system. Members include commercial and public broadcasters who reach 90 percent of U.S. households, consumer technology makers, and B2B tech companies. AWARN is based on the Next Generation Television transmission standard (ATSC 3.0), which the FCC has approved for voluntary use by broadcasters. When fully deployed, AWARN can deliver geo-targeted, rich-media alerts to an unlimited number of enabled TVs, connected cars, and handheld devices even when cellular fails or the grid is down.

AWARN Steering Committee

The Alliance is managed by Executive Director John Lawson through his firm Convergence Services, Inc. The AWARN Steering Committee was formed in 2018 as a governance structure for the inter-industry coalition. Members (in alphabetical order by organization) are:

• John Lawson, AWARN Alliance
• Pete Sockett, Capitol Broadcasting Company
• Brian Markwalter, Consumer Technology Association
• John Taylor, LG Electronics USA Inc.
• Ed Czarnecki, Monroe Electronics
• Sam Matheny, National Association of Broadcasters
• Anne Schelle, Pearl TV
• Fred Baumgartner, Sinclair Broadcast Group/ONE Media
• Fred Engel, UNC-TV

Madeleine Noland, LG senior consultant and chair of Technology Group 3 of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, serves as a non-voting member.

AWARN Alliance Membership, as of March 31, 2019

New-Press & Gazette, Unisoft Corporation, and T-NET Japan are the newest members of the AWARN Alliance.

Broadcasters (Commercial)

• Capitol Broadcasting Company
• News-Press & Gazette
• Pearl TV
• Sinclair Broadcast Group
• Spectrum Co

Broadcasters (Public)

• Kentucky Educational Television
• KPBS/California State University-San Diego
• UNC-TV/University of North Carolina
• WKAR/Michigan State University
• WNET/New York

Technology Companies

• Digital Alert Systems
• LG Electronics USA Inc.
• Monroe Electronics
• ONE Media
• OpenZNet
• The Weather Company an IBM Business
• Triveni Digital
• Unisoft Corporation
• Zenith Electronics LLC

Associations

• Consumer Technology Association
• Interactive Television Alliance
• IPTV Forum Japan (represented by T-Net Japan)
• National Association of Broadcasters

Service Providers

• Convergence Services, Inc.
• Lerman Senter, PLLC
• Wiley Rein, LLC

AWARN.org

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190405005475/en/

CONTACT: John Lawson

AWARN Alliance

Office +1 (703) 347-7070

Mobile +1 (202) 302-1654

[email protected]

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NEVADA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT TV AND RADIO TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER ELECTRONICS HARDWARE INTERNET NETWORKS AUDIO/VIDEO TELECOMMUNICATIONS OTHER TECHNOLOGY SECURITY MOBILE/WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC RELATIONS/INVESTOR RELATIONS OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

SOURCE: Advanced Warning and Response Network Alliance

Copyright Business Wire 2019.

PUB: 04/05/2019 05:23 PM/DISC: 04/05/2019 05:23 PM

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