The topic of our Whitepaper includes The future of interactive television in regards to collaboration, production, technology and delivery techniques.
Deery, June (2003) TV.com: Participatory viewing on the Web. Journal of Popular Culture, 37(2), 161.
In this article, Deery investigates the use of the Web by television viewers and producers. She identifies that society is entering into a type of hybrid of Web-TV technology where technology will change into a type of ‘intermedium’. This article covers the current trends (at least of 2003) of television content and audience participation, foretelling new relationships that will develop between viewers and producer/corporation/performer. Deery also writes that the producers and the corporations will forever seek to control the process to serve commercial interests.
Dornfield, Barry Producing Public Television, Producing Public Culture.
New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1998.
This book discusses how a television show is developed and produced and the role that public television has had on culture. He discusses the idea that they are producers of culture and he also discusses the idea that they are all also consumers by envisioning their audience.
Eronen, Leena. (2003) User Centered Research for Interactive Television. Proceedings of the 2003 European Conference on Interactive Television: From Viewers to Actors (April 2-4, Brighton, UK), University of Brighton, 5-12.
The paper written by Leena Eronen builds upon creative consumer research based on advancement in technology. After a brief history of research methods, and “field trips” to test subject’s workplaces and homes, it is decided that Qualitative interviews will be the method used in this study. Like multimedia testing and television-VCR combo before it, the set top box is implicated as the next big step in television technology. Four study participants were given artists renditions of future technology and asked questions about set top box technology during the two hour interviews. The importance of the article lies in the human element, and user feedback. Although specific technology was not discussed, a better understanding of usability is presented.
Fleury, J.F. (2005) IPTV: The Need for Standards. Communications Technology.
This article discussed the advantages of standardized IPTV. The author discusses some of the issues such as positive and negative aspects of working on an IP network that is present. As with all relatively new technologies many things need to be worked out before the public can get its’ hands on it. Issues such as subscriber management and the actual delivery equipment design are discussed. If IPTV is to dominate the market then these issues will need to be worked out. If the public believes in IPTV then the relationship between television and internet will be closer than ever. If IPTV does come to dominate the market, this has very positive implications for interactive television.
Ha, Louisa. (2002) Enhanced Television Strategy Models: A Study of TV Web Sites. Electronic Networking Applications and Policy, 12(3), 235-247.
Louisa Ha provides an extensive Content Analysis of web television features and usability. Though a little outdated (2002), it is evidence that there is in essence a race against time to have the newest television technologies, and take control of the web. The article helps give an understanding of how different media outlets are using the web, mainly focusing on broadcast, cable, and independent networks and the actual content that is being delivered. The content was then broken down into, fan-based, game-based, information-based, and programming-based. The article helps producers to understand user’s needs and wants, as well as unnecessary features for interactive television.
Jana, Rittwak, and Jora, Serban. (2006) From IPTV to Mobile TV to IMS-TV?: Implications and standards for a network operator. IPTV workshop International World Wide Web Conference (May 23, Edinburgh, Scotland).
A follow up to the writings of Fleury and others, this article discusses the convergence of fixed, mobile, and P2P technologies. With a strict emphasis on the technology itself, the article also talks about IPTV, DMB, and mobile television. Some issues that have arisen deal with “traffic control”, and getting everyone on board with the idea. The pros and cons of current cell phone technologies such as DMB-H are explained with implications for the future. More and more we are receiving media on our hand held devices. Television broadcasters are slowly accepting that the future of interactive television has much to benefit from mobile technologies.
Lawton, Christopher (2007). Video for Everyman. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119076444203939332.html
This article provides information that the common person is taking a greater interest in home recording and editing. With the advances and affordability of video recording, consumers are finding it easier to record anything. And since file sharing is such a huge trend, these technologies are allowing simple loading and manipulation. This article provides support that current trends are paving a new road for sharing and editing. Internet and software companies are also identifying these trends and are working on ways to monopolize on them.
Lee, Seungwhan, and Kwak Kyun, Dong. (2005) TV in Your Cell Phone: The Introduction of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) in Korea. Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (September 24, Arlington, VA), Indiana University.
While Japan is known as the technology Mecca in the Far East, this article discusses that South Korea might be the leader by far in the ever important area of mobile television. With the invention of the DMB mobile television service, citizens of Korea enjoy streaming media and broadcasts on their cell phones. The article gives a history of the technology as well as how South Korea was the first to perfect this technique. Also discussed are the Government regulations and issues that have arisen since the advent of this groundbreaking technology.
Needle, David (2007). Video Meets the Web Meets TV. Retrieved October 24, 2007, from http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3706386
The argument of this article is that Internet and Web TV are not taking away from the ratings of traditional TV. Most important, television companies are looking at ways to bring more television to the Internet and enhance viewer activity through commenting and discussing. There is also a mention of sponsors encouraging viewer sponsored ads. This article takes a brief look at the argument that television corporations are actively supporting Internet television and possible new trends that will arise for the active viewer.
Nie, Norman H., Erbring, Lutz (2002). Internet and Society: A Preliminary Report. IT & Society 1(1), 275-283.
This report looks at the revolution of information technology and how it has affected the lives of the average person. The study draws results from a random sample of American adults and measures the time they spend on the Internet and the loss of contact to their social environment. It was also found that the more time people spend on the Internet, the more they ignored traditional media. The impact of time spent on the Internet and the change of the average person’s attention affects other media in varying degrees, forcing them to create new ways to cater these changes.
Niranen, Samuli. Digital Interactive TV and Metadata: Future Broadcast Multimedia. Springer, 2004.
This book discusses how television has made the consumer a passive participant in television and how the Internet has made the consumer active. The book suggests that in the future the consumer will be more active in television and that it is rapidly changing.
Owen, Bruce M. (1999). The Internet Challenge. Harvard University Press.
Noted communications economist Bruce Owens takes a look at the changing technologies of television and other mediums. Using the economic history of the televisions industry and the effects of government regulation and technologies, Owens provides a glimpse into the future of the television industry and how it might be affected by the Internet. This book will provide an outlook into past thoughts of the future and where society falls now in those thoughts, leaving insight as to what may lay in the future.
Palmer, Gareth (2006). Coming together: Thedatingchannel.com and the future of television. Journal of Media Practice, 7(2).
In this article, Gareth Palmer discusses the meaning and development of interactive television. He takes a look at the dating channel “as a platform for portraits of the self and the community” as a way to reveal connections between convergence, interactivity and the community. He uses this model to define interactivity and its future meaning as viewers and users move from passive to active. Future applications of interactive media are also mentions, such as news and current affairs generated by users and interaction through mobile phones. What is important to identify is the need two-way communication.
Wilson, Tony. The Playful Audience: From Talk Show Viewers to Internet.
New Jersey: Hampton Press Inc, 2004.
He argues that television and the Internet are very similar and goes into depth about why they are similar. Then he discusses how this is leading to a convergence of the media and the consumption of this media.
Zittrain, Jonathan. (2007) The Future of the Internet–And How To Stop It. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008.
In this article, the TIVO technology is discussed. The history of the technology is given as well as its future implications. The article states that the, “Internet is a fluke”, merely something that anyone has claim to. The author states that need to learn from its capabilities and use it for other advancements such. An uncommonly negative opinion of the TIVO is expressed, stating that it provides comfort to those who refuse to take the next step in regards to technology. The article challenges television viewers to think outside the box and rethink the way we view content.