CS448a: Experiments in Digital Television

Debate: Will television and computers converge or diverge?

1. Seema:
   My points to cover are broad with the intro on looking at the issue from both perspectives: 1) Technological determinism 2) Societal determinism.

   Concisely the first one means that the push comes from the technology itself which is so cool and interesting that users will be forced to buy it. Societal determinism is the push from the users that need this technology and the demand creates the impetus for the product's development.

   A convincing argument can be made on both issues. It is not completely clear if the push is from the industry or the users although it is easier to point to technology as the deterministic pushpoint.

   Convergence of different media raise concern of monopolization. This is an apocryphal argument simply because the networking industry today is already monopolistic. There may be 5 networks but they are basically a variation of the same product cloaked as different brands. Including the capability of the web in the digital TV only creates greater diversity if possible.

   Main arguments against will be the difference in media usage. Looking at it from a displacement of media usage perspective, a case study of radio and the change in its usage by people is a strong and analogous comparison.

   Different modalities of input can enhance the experience to meet the requirements of different people.

   Nicholas Negroponte director of MIT Labs makes a strong case that we should stop thinking of television as television. TV benefits most from thinking of it in terms of bits. Most TV programs with the exception of sporting events and election results need not be in real time. Most TV is really like downloading from a computer.

2. Shrish:
   - Telewebbers: people who surf the web while watching TV.
   - According to Dataquest: number of adults who use the Net and watch TV at the same time increased from 8 million in 1998 to 27 million in 1999.
   - 40% of telewebbers logged on to a TV show's Web site at least once a week.
   - Several use the Web to check what TV shows are scheduled while watching television.
   - Vast number of people send millions of email messages while watching TV.
   - Increasing number of telewebbers attests to potential for convergence of Internet and TV.
   - However, the path to Computer-TV convergence is filled with roadblocks as well: simplicity, mental barrier, changing consumer pattern etc.
   - Other trends: people are trying to provide TV and audio features on PC.
   - Some other ways in which Internet-TV convergence can enrich user experience:
   
   • T-Commerce: Provides a plethora of opportunities for e-commerce like click-thru adds. Ex. 1-800-Flowers.com: initial response to interactive commercials very good.
   • Convergence of Computer-TV can benefit both:
     - TVs can benefit by features like personalization of services, ability to remember things and use them in future etc.
     - Computers can benefit through improved viewing experience provided by wider screens.
     
   Hence, there is merit in convergence.

3. Calvin:
   There are tons of similarities between TV and PC, and it makes perfect sense for them to converge.

4. Chen:
   There are two trends happening in the industry: 1) providing Internet-like services on TV; 2) providing TV-like services on computers. We believe these two trends will converge, so that companies can their money more effectively to provide high-quality services to end customers.
   • Trend 1: providing Internet-like services in TV
     o Using TV, users can surf the web, check emails, use interactive TV;
     o Huge market potentials:
     - According to Forrester Research, interactive TV (ITV) will be worth $20 billion in advertising, commerce and subscription revenue by the year 2004.
     - Research firm Jupiter Communications predicts that 30 million U.S. households will have the capabilities of ITV by 2004.
     o Microsoft's WebTV has made its way into 1 million homes (despite a relatively slow adoption rate).
     o Besides that, by this summer, American Online will provide its AOLTV service to give its 20 million-plus users the opportunity to use interactive TV.
     o Others, e.g., Intel, etc.
     o ATVEF:
     - An emerging broadcast industry standard for adding data to video signals.
     - With the creation of ATVEF, other cable and telecomm companies will soon be rolling out their own set-top boxes offering enhanced content to TV.
     
   • Trend 2: providing TV-like services on Internet
     o ImageOn:
     - provide TV-like functionalities on computers.
     - Watch interactive TV on Internet. Users can decide what news clip to watch next.
     - Other services, e.g., shopping, search, emails, etc.
     
   • These two industrial trends will converge.
     o Example: Merge between AOL and Time Warner proves this convergence. The new company combines AOL's online services with Time Warner's vast media and cable assets. It has many resources to provide customers services of media and entertainment, including audio and video.
     o Benefits for the companies: The companies can focus on trend, spend their money more effectively, and provide very high-quality services.
     o Benefits for end users, save money (they don't need to buy two sets). It's more convenient: using one-cable system, subscribe once (instead of two). When they move one place to another, much easier.
     
   Therefore, we believe TV and computers will converge.