Electronic Media: Nicholas Negroponte's Media Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has for a decade offered a glimpse into a digital future...... ELECTRONIC MEDIA recently caught up by e-mail with Mr. Negroponte, who lives on a Greek island when he's not globe-trotting or on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Mass. He serves as founding director of the Media Lab.
An edited transcript follows:
EM: You have advised broadcasters on digital matters. Given the recent
turn of events, beginning with Congress' mandated digital conversion,
are you still concerned broadcasters could be headed for financial
peril?
Mr. Negroponte: No. I think over-the-air broadcasters did some
just-in-time about-faces. If anything, they may be moving faster and
more steadily than their cable brethren.
EM: Do you agree with the digital conversion timetable Washington has
set?
Mr. Negroponte: What I know, I like. The FCC ended up being in lock step obedience with digital destiny-they created a transmission, not a
display standard. (RU note: Zenith's patented VSBi transmission standard)
EM: You have mentioned personalized and agent-based services. Be
specific about what broadcasters can be offering when some go digital as early as 1998?
Mr. Negroponte: Instead of 'Good Morning America,' think of 'Good
Morning, Diane.' This would be a mix of headline subjects and special
interests, downloaded to your TV at night. The general notion of
downloading is key to new offerings. 'Bits' are not only set aside for
later view, but there is no reason for them to come in real time-think
of trickle charge video i.e., pulling video bits from various sources
for personal use.
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Thisw is exactly the technology which Acorn and Silicon Graphics have developed and my read is that Zenith is to be their primary OEM.
Appears that digital TV is moving to also become a pull medium where RBOCS, cable companies and satellite companies will custom deliver your preferred content when you want it. Hats off to Zenith for recognizing this paradigm shift and obtaining the necessary tech to help make it happen. |
