{"id":3005,"date":"2016-11-03T10:22:57","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T10:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/?page_id=3005"},"modified":"2016-11-03T10:22:57","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T10:22:57","slug":"internet-access-via-tv-set","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/internet-access-via-tv-set\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet access via TV set"},"content":{"rendered":"

Appendix H<\/span><\/h1>\n

Internet access via TV set<\/span><\/h1>\n

Extract from “Development of Satellite and Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Systems and Services and Implications for Education and Training”<\/p>\n

The late 1990s have seen developments towards accessing the web via the TV set, either using a set-top box or using a dedicated terminal. Although currently using an analogue set-top box, NTL (1) in the UK provide access to the Internet and other interactive services. NTL are currently testing the technology and market before they move to a digital platform.<\/p>\n

A number of manufacturers have developed and are planning to market a device that provides access to the Internet directly via an ordinary television set. Connection is usually through a SCART socket on the TV set and also to an existing telephone line. The main thrust has initially been through WebTV (2) from Microsoft – still at a pilot stage in Europe but widely used in the US -with over 800,000 subscribers. But also from those that can provide a terminal, like the NetBox in France and Slipstream (3) in the UK.<\/p>\n

The NetBox has been specially developed to offer Internet access via an ordinary TV set. It is based on software and hardware architecture developed by NetGem (4) – a privately-owned company founded in 1996 in Courbevoie, near Paris. It is claimed that the NetBox can be easily adapted to the needs of major telecoms operators, retailers, banks and media groups in Europe. In partnership with these corporations, the NetBox is currently being marketed across 15 countries in Europe, in conjuction with Alcatel (5) and France Telecom.<\/p>\n

Slipstream has been developed by MSU (UK) Ltd (6) – based in Milton Keynes, UK. MSU develops consumer electronic products and reference platforms for itself and other companies. The SlipStreamTM<\/sup> Internet access technology enables anyone with a television and regular telephone line to access the Internet and send and receive email. When it is used with MSU\u2019s customised, proprietary browser, the device allows users to access and interact with foreign web sites in their native language. The company appears to have reached a deal with a Chinese manufacturer and distributor for production and sales to China and the rest of the world. Although personal computer penetration into Chinese households is low, it appears that China has an installed base of 320 million television sets, and that new television sales average 30 million units per year. Furthermore, an adequate Chinese telephone infrastructure is now in place in all 33 major cities and in most rural areas (7).<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen how successful these devices will actually be in the European consumer market. A key issue is the quality of the fonts and graphics that can be displayed on an ordinary TV set, which will be of a lower resolution than a computer monitor. (There is much experience from teletext and videotex to build on.) The price of the device will also be critical, as it will need to be significantly lower than a home PC, a device that continues to drop in price. It is possible that these “Internet TV” devices will find a niche market – but a socially important one – for people that cannot afford to buy a home PC, on the basis that such people should be provided access to the opportunities of the Information Society, including learning opportunities.<\/p>\n

If these devices are connected up to the telephone line using ADSL, it might be possible to access good quality streaming audio and video consisting of learning materials. If the device has enough memory it should be possible to cache the streaming video and replay it repeatedly. This could lead to opportunities for language learning or basic skills. Another possibility is that the device could be used for accessing resources from a local school or a community learning centre or even a local library via an Intranet. This may overcome some potential problems related to the maximum distance that ADSL can be used over an existing telephone line.<\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. NTL Press Release “NTL launches UK\u2019s first Interactive TV service” 30 March 1999<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. WebTV web site: (link no longer available)<\/li>\n
  3. Web Site for Slipstream\u00a0(link no longer available)<\/li>\n
  4. NetGem Web Site: http:\/\/www.netgem.com<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Press Release “Alcatel and Netgem partner to provide Internet services on television sets”, Paris, 25 March 1999\u00a0\u00a0(link no longer available)<\/li>\n
  6. The Web site of MSU (UK) Ltd\u00a0(link no longer available)<\/li>\n
  7. Press Release: MSU Corporation “MSU Corporation, an Internet Technology Company, Signs Manufacturing and Distribution contract in China – Agreement Marks MSU\u2019s Entry Into Chinese Market”, Milton Keynes, England, 6 April, 1999<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Appendix H Internet access via TV set Extract from “Development of Satellite and Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Systems and Services and Implications for Education and Training” The late 1990s have seen developments towards accessing the web via the TV set, either using a set-top box or using a dedicated terminal. Although currently using an analogue set-top Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-rightsidebar.php","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nInternet access via TV set - pjb Associates - Innovative ways of learning - Back to the Future<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/internet-access-via-tv-set\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Internet access via TV set - pjb Associates - Innovative ways of learning - Back to the Future\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Appendix H Internet access via TV set Extract from “Development of Satellite and Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Systems and Services and Implications for Education and Training” The late 1990s have seen developments towards accessing the web via the TV set, either using a set-top box or using a dedicated terminal. Although currently using an analogue set-top Read More ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/internet-access-via-tv-set\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"pjb Associates - Innovative ways of learning - Back to the Future\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" value=\"Written by\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" value=\"admin\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" value=\"Estimated reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" value=\"3 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"pjb Associates - Innovative ways of learning - Back to the Future\",\"description\":\"Innovative ways of learning - - Back to the Future\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/internet-access-via-tv-set\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/internet-access-via-tv-set\/\",\"name\":\"Internet access via TV set - pjb Associates - Innovative ways of learning - Back to the Future\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-03T10:22:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-11-03T10:22:57+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/internet-access-via-tv-set\/\"]}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3005"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3005"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3007,"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3005\/revisions\/3007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/learning.pjb.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}