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March 23, 2005
Social TV
Posted by Ross Mayfield
You just knew this kind of potato salad would happen. BusinessWeek reports on a PARC project, promising the social aspects of the Super Bowl experience without the dropped popcorn and the spilled beer:
The Social TV project is in research stages right now. But the idea is that, with the help of a bit of software, perhaps a keyboard or two and several strategically-placed microphones, people can remotely discuss a TV program while they are watching it. You’ll be able to see which of your buddies is watching which program in his or her house, and join into the viewing. Or, you might start a program-watching session of your own and invite friends.
Indeed, in many ways, Social TV will be similar to the Instant Messenger you already use on your computer. Only it will be more dynamic: Social TV software, located on a device like TiVo or even your TV set, might notice that your and your buddy’s yacking has gone well past the commercial break. The software would conclude that you are no longer watching the show and, perhaps, pause the program until you are ready to resume, says Nic Ducheneau, member of PARC research staff.
The follow-on invention, of course, is a social spam filter that mutes your friends when you are trying to watch TV.
Comments (5)
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1. Kevin Marks on March 23, 2005 2:48 AM writes...
It already happened, Ross, but we did it with the debates, not the superbowl:
http://epeus.blogspot.com/2004_10_01_epeus_archive.html#109776385870386881
Permalink to Comment2. Bart Van Der Meerssche on March 23, 2005 10:18 AM writes...
Within the Residential Networked Applications research team in Alcatel, we've developed an application concept called "AmigoTV" having a similar feature set. For a technology white paper on the subject: http://www.alcatel.com/com/en/appcontent/apl/T0205-Amigo_TV-EN_tcm172-195461635.pdf
Permalink to CommentWhile AmigoTV (or social TV, as PARC is calling it) focuses on the interactivity aspect, the Personal Broadcaster product concept explores the boundaries of personalisation, ultimately allowing every end-user to create his own "broadcasting" channel (see Fig.1).
3. F. Randall Farmer on March 23, 2005 1:35 PM writes...
Wow! What a flashback. Ten years ago, Joshua Harris made a video of Avatars (with TV screen-heads) sitting in a virtual world watching a TV episode and talking about it together. I thought it was totally bizzare then, and (even though this isn't exactly the same thing) I don't think much has changed.
Isn't this a solution without a problem?
I just don't see the market need for couch-potatoes to disintermediate distance. In fact, doesn't the lesson of Tivo (watch what I want, when I want) suggest that this is a silly idea? Why would I give that flexibility (and the pause button) up to other people?
Randy
Permalink to Comment4. John P. on March 23, 2005 2:19 PM writes...
What's there to talk about with your friends? T.V. sucks.
Permalink to Comment5. Phillipa on April 3, 2005 6:20 AM writes...
srmisxn poiuyt http://ghjkliuxb.com/
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