There is a voice that says iDTV is the next big thing. That it would in fact replace PCs in the future in accessing the internet. This proposition could be evaluated on four main dimensions; Personalization, convenience, security and affordability.
Since the highest percentage of current web use is for individual activities such as e-mail accessing the internet through digital TV could not fulfill the user’s need for privacy and individuality, especially considering the fact that the TV is a group device. However it will provide good opportunity for group web interactions such as shopping, gaming, multimedia services, etc. This anticipated development could play a role in bringing family time back. It could also provide a dimension of extra convenience, but again that will only be useful with group activities. If a family for instance are watching a travel program and the destination on the show caught their interest, they can find more travel information and possible packages to that destination without having to leave their comfortable couch.
As with accessing the internet through the conventional PC, there is always going to be the concerns about security especially with commercial transactions. Web developers for both mediums work continuously on increasing security levels. The ability of a user’s iDTV provider to retain credit card information for future transactions is no different than that of any other online retailer accessible through a PC. The security glitches are present on both. It will be up to the user to choose their favourable medium to perform their transactions.
Based on The Office for National Statistics (July 2000) the Internet adoption in underprivileged neighborhoods and excluded social groups is considerably lower than the national average, with only 4.3% in the lower 30% of income earners having access to the internet.
With more people being able to afford a TV set, and with the swap to digital TV, which will merely require households with “old” analogue TVs to purchase a cheap top-set box which converts the digital signal received into analogue, digital TV promises to become a more affordable alternative for accessing the internet compared to the PC. This would help bridge the digital divide and extend the use of the internet to more households even in marginalized areas with digitally underprivileged households.
While iDTV promises to enhance people’s range of media choices that match every possible lifestyle and preference, it will not reach a point where it will replace other media, but rather complement the modern man’s extensive communications platform.
Since the highest percentage of current web use is for individual activities such as e-mail accessing the internet through digital TV could not fulfill the user’s need for privacy and individuality, especially considering the fact that the TV is a group device. However it will provide good opportunity for group web interactions such as shopping, gaming, multimedia services, etc. This anticipated development could play a role in bringing family time back. It could also provide a dimension of extra convenience, but again that will only be useful with group activities. If a family for instance are watching a travel program and the destination on the show caught their interest, they can find more travel information and possible packages to that destination without having to leave their comfortable couch.
As with accessing the internet through the conventional PC, there is always going to be the concerns about security especially with commercial transactions. Web developers for both mediums work continuously on increasing security levels. The ability of a user’s iDTV provider to retain credit card information for future transactions is no different than that of any other online retailer accessible through a PC. The security glitches are present on both. It will be up to the user to choose their favourable medium to perform their transactions.
Based on The Office for National Statistics (July 2000) the Internet adoption in underprivileged neighborhoods and excluded social groups is considerably lower than the national average, with only 4.3% in the lower 30% of income earners having access to the internet.
With more people being able to afford a TV set, and with the swap to digital TV, which will merely require households with “old” analogue TVs to purchase a cheap top-set box which converts the digital signal received into analogue, digital TV promises to become a more affordable alternative for accessing the internet compared to the PC. This would help bridge the digital divide and extend the use of the internet to more households even in marginalized areas with digitally underprivileged households.
While iDTV promises to enhance people’s range of media choices that match every possible lifestyle and preference, it will not reach a point where it will replace other media, but rather complement the modern man’s extensive communications platform.
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