On-line TV viewing: a new consumer experience

In addition to reviewing the technology trends in the TV world of consumer electronics, we will discuss how these developments will influence the consumer experience. The move from one-way TV viewing to interaction within a networked environment will require new ways of user system interaction.The paper will address the changes in merging the world of TV with multimedia content delivery:• The TV experience 'today'. 'Passive viewing' of broadcasters content. Consumers' expectations of the interface; reliable, simple to use, providing a social function.• Likely scenario's for further development; lean backward social interaction through the TV versus lean forward individual interaction with the PC,• The impact of digital technologies and IP becoming pervasive for transport, projections of how TV oriented services will grow, and the likely players in the change from traditional broadcasting to networked access for multimedia content delivery,• From 'just TV' to distributed home entertainment systems, to real two-way consumer communication and attractive e-commerce services,• Television viewing and accessibility of services becoming more personalized and pervasive through a variety of devices (TV, portable communication and entertainment devices like Personal Information Assistants).The paper will discuss the likely impact of these developments on the consumer experience and the issues and challenges facing the consumer-oriented industries in the move to convergence:• Providing a secure, private and pleasant ambience through networked devices and applications in the home,• Extending the ambience of the home to the experience on the move,• Maintaining simplicity for the consumer in a networked environment through interoperability, context awareness and familiar interfaces,• Coping with the daily flood of content, finding what you want anytime, anywhere through personalization and pre-emptive storage and archiving.Consumers need to be involved in the process. More in-depth global consumer studies on regional attitudes and perceptions need to be done. Co-development and evaluation of solutions need to be performed in feasibility and usability labs like the Philips Home Lab under construction.The paper will show examples of how consumer electronics companies are dealing with these challenges and provide some insights into the type of solutions we may expect to see in homes of the near future.