Online & Connected TV

Smart TV, which is also sometimes referred to as “Connected TV” or “Hybrid TV”, (not to be confused with Internet TV, Web TV, Samsung Smart TVs, or LG Electronics’s “LG Smart TV” devices), is the phrase used to describe the current trend of integration of the internet and Web 2.0 features into modern television sets and set-top boxes, as well as the technological convergence between computers and these television sets / set-top boxes. These new devices most often also have a much higher focus on online interactive media, Internet TV, over-the-top content, as well as on-demand streaming media, and less focus on traditional broadcast media like previous generations of television sets and set-top boxes always have had.  Similar to how the internet, web widgets, and software applications are integrated in modern smartphones, hence also the name (“Smart TV” versus “Smart Phone”).

The technology that enables Smart TVs is not only incorporated into television sets, but also devices such as set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, game consoles, and other companion devices. These devices allow viewers to search and find videos, movies, photos and other content on the web, on a local cable TV channel, on a satellite TV channel, or stored on a local hard drive.

Background

The reception of digital TV, and in particular high definition broadcasting in the home is well established across the UK and Europe. Internet TV and the delivery of multimedia content to the home user via the Internet is also becoming increasingly common, although such content is often viewed on a PC or fed to a TV screen from a PC via a media player connected to a home network.

SmartTV systems are intended to extend the reach of multimedia content directly to the television set in a seamless, viewer-friendly manner and to enable the TV viewer to more conveniently access both broadcast digital content and Internet multimedia content (including Internet TV and IPTV) on a TV set using a single remote control/box and a single on-screen interface.

Definition

A Smart TV device is either a television set with integrated internet capabilities or a set-top box for television that offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary basic television set. Smart TV’s may be thought of as a information appliance or the computer system from a handheld computer integrated within a television set unit. As such Smart TV often allows the user to install and run more advanced applications or plugins/addons based on a specific platform. Smart TVs run complete operating system or mobile operating system software providing a platform for application developers.

Services delivered through Smart TV include traditional broadcast TV channels, catch-up services, video-on-demand, EPG, interactive advertising, personalisation, voting, games, social networking, and other multimedia applications.

Benefits

Smart TV devices enable consumers to view all of these advanced services on their flat screen TV, via a single device. In addition to a broader range of content from TV providers, ranging from traditional broadcast TV, video on-demand and catch-up TV services, like BBC iPlayer – Smart TV also provides consumers with access to user-generated content, either stored on an external hard drive, or cloud storage, and to a range of advanced interactive services and Internet applications, such as YouTube.

Smart TV set-top boxes are increasingly commonplace amongst pay-TV operators as they look to meet the changing media consumption trends for more video content, advanced interactivity and internet applications like social networking.

Technology

While the concept of Smart TV is still in its incipient stages, up and coming software frameworks such as the proprietary Google TV and the open source XBMC platforms getting a lot of public attention in the news media within the consumer electronics market area. Commercial offerings from companies such as Logitech, Sony, LG, Boxee, Samsung and Intel have indicated products in the area that will give television users search capabilities, ability to run apps (sometimes available via an ‘app store’ digital distribution platform), interactive on-demand media, personalized communications, and social networking features.

Operating systems

There are a multiple array of mobile operating systems currently available, and while most are targeting smartphones, nettops or tablet computers, some also run on Smart TVs or were even designed specifically for Smart TV usage. Most often the operating system of Smart TV’s are originally based on Unix, Linux, or another open-source software platform.

Interface Design

Designing and developing a Smart TV interface is a complex challenge, and not simply a matter of integrating the different input sources. The consumer experience must be optimized so that all media sources are integrated seamlessly and accessible through a single Electronic Programme Guide, something which requires very advanced software progamming.

Social networking

A number of Smart TV platforms come prepackaged, or can be optionally extended with social networking technology capabilities. With this users can both glean updates from, and post their own updates to existing social networking services (like for example Boxee’s social networking features which other then their own interfaces with Facebook, Last.fm, Tumblr, and Twitter, among other similar services), including posts related to the content currently being played. The addition of social networking synchronization to Smart TV and HTPC platforms may provide an interaction with both on-screen content and other viewers than is currently available to most televisions, while simultaneously providing a much more cinematic experience of the content than is currently available with most computers.

List of notable platforms

Following list encompasses notable Smart TV platforms that are used as framework by more than one manufacturer;

• Boxee (popular fork of the XBMC media center software with custom GUI and some proprietary application framework for apps).
• Google TV (Android based platform by Google, Intel, Sony, and Logitech).
• LG Smart TV (by LG Electronics) “SMART TV” branded NetCast Entertainment Access devices by LG Electronics.
• Mediaroom (by Microsoft).
• MeeGo for Smart TV (Linux Foundation, Intel, AMD).
• Philips NetTV (by Philips) based on the Open IPTV Forum standards.
• Samsung Smart TV (by Samsung).
• Viera Cast (by Panasonic).
• Vudu (by Wal-Mart).
• XBMC Media Center (by the XBMC Foundation and its open source community).
• Yahoo! Connected TV, formerly Yahoo! GoTV (by Yahoo!).