Interactive Television - A new wave of TV
Interactive television is where viewers can interact with the TV content as they are viewing it. It’s other names are iTV, idTV and ITV. The viewer is given the opportunity to alter their viewing experience (such as choosing an angle to watch a game, etc.), or give information back to the broadcaster. Cable viewers receive their programs via a cable, and in the cable return path platforms, they use the same cable as a return path. This isn’t free. People are charged for this service through their regular telephone bill. Interactive television can also be delivered by a terrestrial aerial. When this way of media is used, there is no “return path” as such – which means that data can’t be sent back to the broadcaster (which means that in this instance, you couldn’t vote on a TV show or order a product). Interactivity would still be possible though as the viewer would still be able to interact with an application which is broadcast and downloaded to the box.
Interactive television is used to refer to many forms of interactivity, and this is sometimes misunderstood. There are three levels:
Interactivity with a TV set: this is the one set of interactive television that is simple and is already very successful. This got its first jump with the use of the remote control, and has since evolved into video-on-demand, VCR-like pause, rewind, fast forward, and DVRs, etc. It doesn’t change any content of the TV program, only how the program is viewed. This is a kind of interactive television but what is meant in any full sense of the term.
Interactivity with TV program content: This is the one interactive television in the sense that is deepest is produce. This is the idea that the program might change based on the viewer’s input. Some advanced forms include possibilities where viewers may be able to choose the outcome of the program or the endings. Simpler forms include being able to vote in polls, answer questions, give comments and other forms of feedback into the show.
Interactivity with content that is related to what is on TV: This is the interactive television that is hardest to understand, but looks as though to have the most promise on how we watch TV over the next decade. Examples of this interactive television include getting more info about what is on the TV whether it be weather, sports or news.
Interactive television is growing more popular and should be evolving over time and only getting bigger. You may be surprised to find it in your home someday.