In attending and speaking at the Connected Home Global Summit 2011 in London last week I was introduced to, at least parts of, the industry of the connected home. With an emphasis on media the conference made a pretty good job at conveying the state of the industry.
The focus was definitely on tablets as the second screen of choice. Not surprising.
What is surprising is that no-one seem to focus on performance. We are adding features en masse to the wall mounted screen at home, yet, your average connected TV at home is slow beyond comparison.
The one manufacturer that actually takes the leap of faith and produces a "snappy" TV experience will win. Not only the consumers but also the developers. As we all know, it is the developers you want. As history will tell you, this happend to the mobile industry with the advent of the iPhone and will happen to the TV industry as well. This is obviously not only up to the TV manufacturer as we are expecting more and more of the content to be delivered OTT and we need to ensure that end-to-end delivery of content has the quality of experience that we are all expecting.
Do let me know if you know about a TV platform that I ought to check out based on it's performance in combined execution speed and openness for developers.
Being about the Connected Home there was a lot of presentations with a focus on what operators and manufacturers have in their current portfolio. A lot less of forward looking predictions.
My prediction is that we will see a Web of Screens, taking off in the research around Web of Things. When all screens are connected to the web we all of a sudden need much more sophisticated discovery and control functions than is currently in place in DLNA or other offerings such as AirPlay.
This will take a fundamental understanding of which screens that are relevant for you in any given context. If implemented right, perhaps we will actually lose the cable and get to the point where we are truly Un-Connected.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Notes from the second W3C Web+TV workshop
I've now spent two days in Berlin at Fraunhofer FOKUS for the second W3C Web+TV workshop. For me, this is an eye-opener. Bringing the Web and TV world together is not without struggle, although at a distance it looks so easy.
Web technologies in your TV has been around for some 10 years, mostly unnoticed by the end-user. There are some real attempts at bridging this from most of the major manufacturers and obviously the GoogleTV platform that is first being delivered by Sony.
The workshop addressed many different areas from basic use cases, adaptive streaming, content protection to accessibility discussions.
There was much discussion about the "second screen" or actually any other screen but the TV set itself. Most of these presentations revolved around how these other screens could be synced with the content being displayed on the main TV set. In practice, letting the broadcaster ensure that you get an inclusive experience related to the programming you are watching at the moment.
The second screen is also being viewed as the remote control going forwards. What I liked very much was the open discussion about API:s, allowing web (or other) applications to start controlling your TV experience. When put into practice it would potentially enable web services like tv.nu to change the channel on your set.
Given the number of business models and the way the TV manufacturers are developing their products, I am starting to believe that the TV industry, as a whole, will very quickly adopt HTML5 as their platform of choice. Many already has. In doing so being a quick driver of the adoption of web widgets, device API:s, web notifications and so on.
The problem at hand here is that the TV industry likes very stable specs since a TV set will not get more than a few software updates and that is only to fix critical bugs.
Once there, the web as a platform for your TV is a very promising one where the services and applications for your TV will be in a position to evolve as quickly as the developer wants them to. Adhering to a web platform also, somewhat at least, removes fragmentation issues as everyone is set on one platform.
A lot of suggestions for new features and API:s that look encouraging; multi-track support, trick-modes, recording, downloading, home networking (device and service discovery), real-time communications.
A fundamental question is how the user will react to having the web and TV merged. The TV audience is used to a TV that always works, is stable and does not prod you with strange messages. I am wondering if the tolerance for configuring things (such as privacy, security questions) when presented to the user through the TV will change as we move towards smarter TV:s.
All in all, it looks like we have a very interesting future ahead, coming soon to a TV near you. If you are interested I urge you to join the W3C Web and TV Interest Group.
Web technologies in your TV has been around for some 10 years, mostly unnoticed by the end-user. There are some real attempts at bridging this from most of the major manufacturers and obviously the GoogleTV platform that is first being delivered by Sony.
The workshop addressed many different areas from basic use cases, adaptive streaming, content protection to accessibility discussions.
There was much discussion about the "second screen" or actually any other screen but the TV set itself. Most of these presentations revolved around how these other screens could be synced with the content being displayed on the main TV set. In practice, letting the broadcaster ensure that you get an inclusive experience related to the programming you are watching at the moment.
The second screen is also being viewed as the remote control going forwards. What I liked very much was the open discussion about API:s, allowing web (or other) applications to start controlling your TV experience. When put into practice it would potentially enable web services like tv.nu to change the channel on your set.
Given the number of business models and the way the TV manufacturers are developing their products, I am starting to believe that the TV industry, as a whole, will very quickly adopt HTML5 as their platform of choice. Many already has. In doing so being a quick driver of the adoption of web widgets, device API:s, web notifications and so on.
The problem at hand here is that the TV industry likes very stable specs since a TV set will not get more than a few software updates and that is only to fix critical bugs.
Once there, the web as a platform for your TV is a very promising one where the services and applications for your TV will be in a position to evolve as quickly as the developer wants them to. Adhering to a web platform also, somewhat at least, removes fragmentation issues as everyone is set on one platform.
A lot of suggestions for new features and API:s that look encouraging; multi-track support, trick-modes, recording, downloading, home networking (device and service discovery), real-time communications.
A fundamental question is how the user will react to having the web and TV merged. The TV audience is used to a TV that always works, is stable and does not prod you with strange messages. I am wondering if the tolerance for configuring things (such as privacy, security questions) when presented to the user through the TV will change as we move towards smarter TV:s.
All in all, it looks like we have a very interesting future ahead, coming soon to a TV near you. If you are interested I urge you to join the W3C Web and TV Interest Group.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Web 2.0 summit - the Monday
The event kicked-off with Eric Schmidt, CEO at Google. In talking much about the Google approach to openness he also showed NFC. Whilst not being first with this it is interesting to see that the technology is making its way into the Android stack and consequently on to Android devices.
Eric showed NFC as a way of tracking location, but more importantly as a way for the Android devices to provide a more secure way of allowing monetary transactions.
When it comes to Android the next focus for Google will be on the applications layer.
On GoogleTV the obvious questions were asked, but I think the one sentence that stuck with me was the para-phrasing from a television executive who had said: "Do you realize that you take a dumb TV and making it smart?". The edge of the network is where the evolution and innovation will happen, making your screens at home smarter is an obvious way to allow for even more interaction.
Another thing that struck me was Zynga in that they now have some 1300 employees, 13 studios in 6 countries and soon if not now 400 people working on new IP (new games that is). Looking to leverage more of the social dial-tone in that they want to make you play more by letting you know who else in your network is playing any of the Dog (a play with their logo) games at the moment.
There was a mix of presentations and discussion on the value of data and I think that Steven Berlin Johnson had some interesting input in that we now see a trend in data that is locked into apps and thus making it un-linkable. The URL and the fact that you can point to data is what is crucial to allow for an even greater rate of innovation. If data starts to be locked-in innovation may suffer.
I think the app trend will go away. Right now, apps are a very convenient way of packaging access to a service. We will soon be able to do the same packing in terms of the user experience for full web applications and soon the data will be linkable again.
Bing is also interesting in that is taking on the role as a task oriented engine rather than pure search. It is a huge undertaking but one that I think is really worth following. I say that because if I could have Bing accomplish my seat-changes and on-line boarding without having to go to four different sites when travelling on a given European trip that would really help.
My take-away for the day is that branding is becoming even more important as is the data that we all generate. The services that can make the best use of your available data will certainly have a good time.
On the theme of Points of Control: Now we only need good mechanism to allow for personal control of that data so that it does not continue to end up in controlled silos.
Eric showed NFC as a way of tracking location, but more importantly as a way for the Android devices to provide a more secure way of allowing monetary transactions.
When it comes to Android the next focus for Google will be on the applications layer.
On GoogleTV the obvious questions were asked, but I think the one sentence that stuck with me was the para-phrasing from a television executive who had said: "Do you realize that you take a dumb TV and making it smart?". The edge of the network is where the evolution and innovation will happen, making your screens at home smarter is an obvious way to allow for even more interaction.
Another thing that struck me was Zynga in that they now have some 1300 employees, 13 studios in 6 countries and soon if not now 400 people working on new IP (new games that is). Looking to leverage more of the social dial-tone in that they want to make you play more by letting you know who else in your network is playing any of the Dog (a play with their logo) games at the moment.
There was a mix of presentations and discussion on the value of data and I think that Steven Berlin Johnson had some interesting input in that we now see a trend in data that is locked into apps and thus making it un-linkable. The URL and the fact that you can point to data is what is crucial to allow for an even greater rate of innovation. If data starts to be locked-in innovation may suffer.
I think the app trend will go away. Right now, apps are a very convenient way of packaging access to a service. We will soon be able to do the same packing in terms of the user experience for full web applications and soon the data will be linkable again.
Bing is also interesting in that is taking on the role as a task oriented engine rather than pure search. It is a huge undertaking but one that I think is really worth following. I say that because if I could have Bing accomplish my seat-changes and on-line boarding without having to go to four different sites when travelling on a given European trip that would really help.
My take-away for the day is that branding is becoming even more important as is the data that we all generate. The services that can make the best use of your available data will certainly have a good time.
On the theme of Points of Control: Now we only need good mechanism to allow for personal control of that data so that it does not continue to end up in controlled silos.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
on geo-blocking
I have just returned from a business trip in Europe. This is obviously nothing unusual, however, I have become attached to watching The Event as it is aired in Sweden (where I live). Now, when I was in France I discovered that watching the latest episode would not be easy.
My first attempt was by trying SVT Play. This was met by a simple message informing me of the fact that I was trying to view this content from the wrong region of the world. OK, fair enough, I suspected that this would be the case. Now, off to NBC in a foolish attempt to try an catch up with the latest episode from the official website. Result, wrong region again.
I am not sure that The Event is aired in France or put another way, my futile search attempts could not reveal what television station it would be and if so what their web streaming offer would be... No, I am not fluent enough to do the searching in French..
So, in trying to stay with the official offerings I am left without thanks to the wonderful world of geo-blocking content.
This strikes me as odd as I would have thought that series such as The Event would get a following and a steady fan-base (well, including me) that would want to watch it wherever they are in the world.
A simple ID service would have easily verified that I am actually a Swedish citizen and regardless of where I am in the world I would be able to access and view SVT Play as if I was in Sweden. This way, content is still region blocked but as a member of that region I get the freedom to take the viewing with me as I travel.
I would obviously prefer for geo-blocking to go away completely.
My first attempt was by trying SVT Play. This was met by a simple message informing me of the fact that I was trying to view this content from the wrong region of the world. OK, fair enough, I suspected that this would be the case. Now, off to NBC in a foolish attempt to try an catch up with the latest episode from the official website. Result, wrong region again.
I am not sure that The Event is aired in France or put another way, my futile search attempts could not reveal what television station it would be and if so what their web streaming offer would be... No, I am not fluent enough to do the searching in French..
So, in trying to stay with the official offerings I am left without thanks to the wonderful world of geo-blocking content.
This strikes me as odd as I would have thought that series such as The Event would get a following and a steady fan-base (well, including me) that would want to watch it wherever they are in the world.
A simple ID service would have easily verified that I am actually a Swedish citizen and regardless of where I am in the world I would be able to access and view SVT Play as if I was in Sweden. This way, content is still region blocked but as a member of that region I get the freedom to take the viewing with me as I travel.
I would obviously prefer for geo-blocking to go away completely.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The webinos research project
Web in OS.
Brings the Web closer to your operating system, is one way of interpreting the name of the EU funded research project with the name Webinos.
There has actually been quite much written about the project lately, for instance by the BBC, since the news got out that the project got its funding and is now kicked-off.
My feeling was that, to a large extent media picked this up as, yet another apps platform. This is not quite the case. Webinos is about solving problems that the Web is struggling with today.
The research project is set to push technology beyond its current state in a number of areas, from how we merge web technologies with native platforms to how we deal with identities and fundamentally making your device a part of the cloud.
Being a research project it has a very hands on side as well in that all the ideas and inspiration that is thrown in now at the start will end up in open source code.
The project brings together industry experts from manufacturers to academia in a great mix that I believe can really make a change.
Brings the Web closer to your operating system, is one way of interpreting the name of the EU funded research project with the name Webinos.
There has actually been quite much written about the project lately, for instance by the BBC, since the news got out that the project got its funding and is now kicked-off.
My feeling was that, to a large extent media picked this up as, yet another apps platform. This is not quite the case. Webinos is about solving problems that the Web is struggling with today.
The research project is set to push technology beyond its current state in a number of areas, from how we merge web technologies with native platforms to how we deal with identities and fundamentally making your device a part of the cloud.
Being a research project it has a very hands on side as well in that all the ideas and inspiration that is thrown in now at the start will end up in open source code.
The project brings together industry experts from manufacturers to academia in a great mix that I believe can really make a change.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Being part of the cloud
There is an endless flood of data covering the volumes of smartphones that will be on the market by the end of this year and what the market potential is actually like. One thing is for certain, the smarter phones are eating up market share at the cost of the feature phones.
Some platforms are performing better than others (nielsenwire). Some platforms attract more developers than others (Appcelerator), which is a key indicator for where innovation will happen.
Troed Sångberg wrote, about a year ago, about the fact that the new form factor of some devices and the software architecture of these devices actually made them into Mobile Internet Devices. As in, the Internet is the primary use-case, making a phone call is just another application.
As such, they became your window to the Internet. You expect an all-in experience when you interact with the web using these devices, if something does not work you think that there is something wrong with your device. Here we can, at length, go into the options manufacturers have in terms of including technology but we can also talk about the options that service (web) developers have. But I will not.
In short, there is still much to be wanted in terms of a truly great mobile web experience.
What is more interesting is that we are now at the point where we can expect these devices to transform into not only being a window to the Internet but being a fully embraced node in the cloud.
You carry around a device today that is a truly converged technological phenomena with audio, video, cameras and connectivity at your fingertips.
There are developments in standards (W3C) where specifications like Powerbox are being discussed and evolved. This is one way of, in a generic kind of way, connecting resources to the Web. When such technologies have established themselves in our devices we will see services building on the fact that they can get access to your local resources be it your microphone, camera or your brand new stress sensor.
Another initiative, within the EU FP7 research program, called Webinos, aims at evolving the current state-of-the art in web technologies and introduce any missing pieces to truly make the web the platform of choice for services and applications. A web, where you as an individual is at the center.
As your device is gradually transforming into a local network of sensors, some of which will reside in your clothing and others built into accessories such as your glasses, the mobile device will be the focal point of connectivity ensuring that your resources can be included in the cloud.
When this connectivity is in place we can truly start to talk about the next generation of context awareness, with services that truly augment your life and perhaps also makes you rather than the device smarter.
We are now moving from carrying a window to the Internet to a reflection of you in the cloud.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Getting a new drivers license
Getting a new drivers license in Sweden, or updated I should say, requires me to go somewhere to get my photo taken.
Given that most people already have either a digital camera or a "web cam" on their laptop/desktop why can I not use this to get my new license?
I guess that what I am really asking is why is this not a web service? I can upload my avatar to all other sites, why can I not upload a photo for my drivers license. The service could easily check that the submitted photo it is of required resolution and that all features of my face shows properly.
My signature can easily be scanned with my multipurpose printer/scanner and uploaded in the same manner as my photo.
I would identify myself with a proper online ID (for instance, we use BankID as a valid form of identification for many services already) and be good to go.
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