-
Blog
- Lähdesmäki: Matti Nykänen katoaa lööpeistä 2030
August 19, 2010
- Design oriented approach in Agile SW development the best of two worlds
May 3, 2010
- Apple iPad, ensikokemukset
April 4, 2010
- Five Trends for 2010
January 14, 2010
- Viisi nousevaa trendiä
January 12, 2010
- Internet Marketing Guide Book (in Finnish)
December 22, 2009
- October Newsletter - Lokakuun uutiskirje
October 30, 2009
- Work, work, work
October 27, 2009
- Teaching the old dog some new tricks
September 9, 2009
- New Finnish Guide for Internet Marketing Coming Up
September 4, 2009
- Lähdesmäki: Matti Nykänen katoaa lööpeistä 2030
NexTV - tying the knot between content and technology
Monday, April 20, 2009
In my blog entry in Tietoviikko, I’m discussing the possible convergence of two current evolution paths for the TV broadcasting industry.
On one path, digital TV receivers have technically evolved to computing powerhouses, with more processing power and networking capabilities. On the other, traditional TV broadcasting industry is providing more and more addional content (such as interviews, behind the scenes footage or short webisodes) to boost popular TV shows.
The problem is that the paths do not cross, nor do they seem to do it in the future. On the contrary, broadcasters seem to fight this with all their might, relying on traditional PC Web delivery instead of tying the knot between the two. This is a losing battle: eventually the evolutionary paths must combine, or become extinct.
Here is a group of technologies that could be easily adapted by the digital set-top-box manufacturers and broadcasters to start their joint evolutionary road.
1) Built-in Web browser with Adobe Flash support
This is self evident and there are lots of open source technologies to choose from. Ease of use should be a key driver, as a bad UI and user experience kills the entire concept. Some service providers are already offering their service with optimized UIs for remote controllers.
Edit: Adobe has clearly noticed the same issue and they are gearing up their troops for deployment.
See YouTube XL
2) Web address recognition
It makes more sense to access Web sites related to the TV show with the same device and even during the show than remembering the addresses for later use. Even if the viewer visits the Web sites during the commercial breaks, they are still kept within the broadcasters area of influence (read: subject to targeted advertisement and promotions). Web addresses can be easily scanned from the picture, EPG or from other delivery stream metadata.
Samsung already has a similar concept, which utilizes closed captioning and seems to work quite nicely. See Samsung See’n'Search.
3) Services optimized for set-top-boxes
A global standard is needed for the developers to provide their widgets for the TV viewers. Yahoo! has a good start partnering with Samsung, but the playing field is still open.
See Yahoo! Connected TV.
Samsung, Sony and others are headed to the right directions, but I’m really hoping that the manufacturers of traditional set-top-boxes would step up to the game and offer similar services in their products.
Harri
