Lean Back Computing
Baris Karadogan, Partner at ComVentures, has an interesting post on his blog about interactive television, and how it’s seen by main stream media. He lists the reactions to the question, “Are you guys saying that Interactive TV is finally coming?” They all have a range of responses that wash out to excuses.
His response is a lot different.
Then it was my turn. I said: “Let me answer your question with a question. Why do you want interactive TV?” There was a silence in the room. “If you want to interact with your TV, why can you switch your bigscreen TV to the PC mode and get all the interactivity you like from the Internet. When you are done, go back to your TV.” 10 years ago people used to say, “the TV is a lean back experience and the PC is a lean forward experience”. Hence there was no way to use the PC while in the living room. I think the PC has become a lean back experience in a big way. Look at what’s happened: 1) TV screens are big enough and with enough resolution that you can surf the web fantastically lying on a couch 2) Laptops are smaller, cheaper and can be easily hooked to your big screen TV with a long enough VGA cable or hopefully one day with wireless HDMI. 3)Products like Apple TV bring your PC content on to your TV already 4) The game consoles are PC’s that are hooked up to your TV.
I’ve been streaming video to my old Xbox to watch on my plasma tv for years, and I’m looking forward to the Apple TV. I’ve also done a little surfing on my Nintendo Wii. So I’d say that I’ve been leaning back and forward in my lounge room for years.