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Intel and Yahoo to bring internet to HDTV
Yahoo and Intel are determined to prove that two heads are better than one and doing several things at once is where it’s at when it comes to their new joint project; to allow HDTV viewers to surf the web on their televisions at the same time as watching their favourite programme.  No longer will we passively sit and watch programmes on one screen, having to strain to get our laptops if there’s something we want to research.  With this new feature, eyes may remain fixed straight ahead while everything can be done in the same arena- TV and Internet will be seamless. There’s no doubt about it, we are becoming a nation of multi-taskers.  Many of us are now accustomed to using an array of media simultaneously.  According to Ofcom’s annual Communications Market report, out last week, a massive 75 percent of 20-34 year olds use their mobile phone while watching television and more than a third of 25-44 year olds surf the net when watching. In response to our changing habits, Yahoo and Intel are launching a “Widget Channel” to enable people to send emails, get the latest sports results and even check the weather when watching TV. The information-delivering widgets can be personalised and will run along the bottom of the screen in a “snippets bar” allowing users to keep one eye on their programme and the other on info from the web. The plans come at a key time for a new industry when consumers are becoming progressively more expectant of interactivity with media.  They’re used to phone-ins where their say is integral to the result of a programme and getting heard through comments on blogs.  The chance to interact with television may just be the next step. “TV will fundamentally change how we talk about, imagine and experience the Internet”, said Eric Kim, Intel senior vice president and general manager of its Digital Home Group in a joint statement with Yahoo. They are keen to stress that this is not just a copy of a PC on a TV.  The companies will work with content providers and television manufacturers to develop the platform.  Twitter and eBay have already expressed their interest in developing software for the channel and television manufacturers Samsung and Toshiba are also included in plans. As part of a broader strategy, Samsung are exploring ways to integrate the internet into its television sets.  They intend to start slowly in order not to overwhelm users but eventually build up the additional content on their televisions and transform its function.  The company believe that TV could become the heart of home entertainment, equipped with software that enables the sets to connect wirelessly to other devices automatically. There is criticism that the service will give too much exclusivity to Yahoo as only services approved by them will be available.  Moreover, it’s feared that Yahoo will bombard viewers with their adverts.  However, it must be acknowledged that this is a bold move and adverts being the currency of the Internet mean there’s little hope that this sort of progression would be happening without them.  Only time will tell whether this is the progression that people are ready for in their homes.

 

Justin Drummond,
Chief Executive - Media Corporation plc

 

Published Sep 05 2008, 02:41 PM by Justin Drummond

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