According to the exhibits showcased at CES 2006 last week, a future dominated by Internet Television, or IPTV, is not only feasible but inevitable.
Internet Television had a significant “rise” at this year’s CES, as everyone from Microsoft to lesser-known companies took time to discuss the prospects of this innovative form of television.
Highlights
It’s easy to see why IPTV is so alluring. The idea of watching television through Internet Protocol, where you can sit in front of your TV screen and access a seemingly endless array of content—new and old, paid and free—from the web with just a few clicks of a remote control has been publicly unveiled. In everyone’s mind, IPTV is just a few steps away from entering the global market.
However, in reality, the IPTV industry still…. “talks more than it acts” and has to overcome numerous technical challenges.
Nevertheless, at CES 2006, it seemed that many viable solutions were discovered. First is the Wi-Fi IPTV technology from Ruckus. This company has developed specialized 802.11g access points with antennas designed to enhance signal reception, speed, and data transmission stability. With these, service providers will be able to stream TV programs directly to your home, allowing you to enjoy them on any connected screen.
According to the company’s demonstration at the exhibition, this technology enables multimedia content to “flow” between home TVs (including high-definition TVs) at speeds of 10 Mbit/second across an area of up to 1200 square feet. However, for IPTV to support multiple channels, we still need to wait for the arrival of 802.11n high-speed access points, which can reach speeds of 108 Mbit/second or higher.
Internet search capabilities are also likely to play a crucial role in the realization of IPTV. Both Yahoo and Google introduced on-demand video services, expanding their search services for favorite TV shows. Yahoo’s new application even allows users to search for and enjoy high-quality videos directly on their computers, TVs, and even mobile phones.
Hardware giants like Intel are unveiling the next generation of chips and the new Viiv processing platform, transforming PCs into digital home multimedia entertainment centers. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Bill Gates is vigorously seeking allies, with ambitions for the company’s software to dominate both the living room and home office spaces.
Inevitable Flow
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(Source: Techweb) |
“To some extent, the dam has been broken. The shift to using the Internet as a broadcasting channel is an inevitable step and cannot be stopped“, Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel, stated.
This process is expected to accelerate as more users transition to digital and HDTV. Now, traditional television channels are not the only ones monopolizing content delivery; a new wave of electronics and computer businesses is rushing into this emerging Internet video market.
The undeniable advantage of IPTV is its much lower deployment costs compared to cable television, while offering more interactive features for users, such as the ability to record several programs simultaneously. For example, Microsoft’s sample IPTV service allows viewers to watch a baseball game while simultaneously viewing information and statistics about each player on the field.
No company unveiled a truly “magical” product at CES 2006, but you don’t need a vivid imagination to envision a near future where Internet TV becomes the dominant name.
Interactive as Web Browsing
The lofty goal pursued by all companies is to deliver Internet content to household TVs and mobile devices. But that’s not enough. Their ambition extends much further: How to enable consumers to also “interact” with these devices in a two-way manner—just like how they have interacted with websites over the past decade—is the real challenge.
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With a specialized remote control, users will be able to “interact” with the TV just like browsing the web. (Source: WashingtonPost) |
Unlike fragmented video clips sent to mobile phones, Internet Television or IPTV allows for the blending of multiple layers of video, images, and text into continuous data packets “thrown” onto your TV screen. Users feel like “little kings,” freely navigating through this world with their remote controls, just like watching traditional television.
But here’s the magic: When you point your remote at a stunning actress on screen, a window pops up whispering that her name is Angelina Jolie, listing previous movies she starred in, and perhaps even a “Buy me” button if you wish to purchase anything related to her.
Dream or Delusion?
In the not-too-distant future, the world around you will be a seamless, interconnected space with no physical boundaries. Through the Internet, you will be able to preview trailers for upcoming TV shows and engaging programs.
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(Source: MSNBC) |
The most distinctive IPTV channels will appear on your ultra-thin, ultra-resolution TV screens, which, when turned off, look like giant mirrors on your walls. Furthermore, with many new projection technologies, you can enjoy images even on your ceiling while lounging on the sofa or bed.
When you grow tired of watching TV, you can switch to browsing your digital photo album on a 200-inch HDTV screen via Yahoo Go, or check Google Video for news updates you missed while being away. Everything happens in an instant, thanks to remarkable advancements in Internet technology.
Does it sound far-fetched and delusional? Of course, but who forbids you the right to dream? Moreover, this dream has at least a decent chance of becoming a reality….
Nguyen Thi
