VOD systems allow users to select and watch video content over a network as part of an interactive television system. These systems allow two viewing modes: streaming the video content and viewing it while is being downloaded or, downloading it completely to a set-top box, and, after that, start viewing it.
Published in Chapter:
Interactive Television Evolution
Alcina Prata (Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS), Portugal)
Copyright: © 2009
|Pages: 6
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-014-1.ch102
Abstract
Television was a brilliant invention because it is capable of transporting us anywhere (Perera, 2002). Since its first production, in 1928, it never stopped spreading. In fact, while the Internet European penetration rate rounds 40-60% the TV penetration rate rounds 95-99% (Bates, 2003), which means that almost every home has, at least, one TV set. However, the TV paradigm which has traditionally occupied the largest share of consumer leisure time is now changing. In fact, and as a result of the so-called “digital revolution,” TV is now undergoing a process of technological evolution. The traditional TV sets and programs (which are typically passive programs) are being replaced by digital TV sets, which allow a long list of new interactive services and programs, concretely, interactive television (iTV). There is no doubt that iTV, which can be defined as a TV system that allows the viewer to interact with an application that is simultaneously delivered, via a digital network, in addition with the traditional TV signal (Perera, 2002) will replace the traditional TV viewing habits. In spite of being a recent phenomenon in terms of use, in the last 20 years, many research groups have worked in iTV development. Their progress over time is going to be addressed in the next section. However, due to the enormous quantity of telecommunications or cable trials launched it was impossible to present them all. Thus, only the more significant are referred.