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Tuning in Interactive TV
Tuning in Interactive TV |
The way you watch television is about to change dramatically. Or is it?
Companies ranging from Microsoft Corp. and AT&T to America Online are rolling out new services that provide a glimpse into the future of television. Take a look at some of the services you won't be able to live without ... and some that should remain in the lab.
The Big Picture
Almost all of us use one of the earliest forms of interactive TV: the remote control, a so-called "application" that many can't live without. Soon, we'll have access to an even larger array of interactive TV services, including video on demand (VOD), Internet access over the TV set, personal video recording, and TV-based chat. Each application will inject an element of computer technology into your TV set delivered by your cable TV operator, satellite TV provider, and retailers like Circuit City and Best Buy.
But which services will be must-haves? And what will they do for you? Before we try to answer those questions, let's look at how we already use the TV set and the computer.
Watching TV has historically been a "lean-back," shared experience. That is, we sit six to 10 feet away from the set, and often watch it with others. The computer, on the other hand, is a "lean-forward" device. We interact with our PCs and MACs from distances of one to three feet, and rarely share it with anyone else.
Why does that matter? Because many interactive TV services force us to mix these behaviors, like leaning into the TV set to surf the Web. But the best applications won't require us to dramatically change our behavior. Instead, they'll combine the best elements of the computer to enhance our lean-back, TV-viewing experience.
That's why we're keen on VOD and personal video recording. Web-focused, interactive TV applications will find their niche, but it may take some time.
