Title: Digital television, Personal Video Recorders and Media, Automation, Data and Entertainment convergence in the home

Authors: Graham Mann, Indulis Bernsteins

Addresses: School of Information Technology, Murdoch University, South St., Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. ' IBM Australia, 1060 Hay St., West Perth, WA 6005, Australia

Abstract: Out of the confusion of possible delivery technologies for domestic digital video entertainment, the personal video recorder (PVR) with an electronic program guide (EPG) emerges as a key component. Serving as a content manager for video broadcasts, PVRs can automatically record, sort, schedule, store and integrate video material from different sources in a convenient, easy-to-use and timely fashion. Such devices are gradually being adopted in the homes of the developed world, and are the increasing subject of pioneering commercial enterprise, innovative experimentation and open-source community development. Going one step further, the concept of a |MADE system| is introduced as a system with converged functionality for media, automation, data and entertainment. This article describes and compares three systems with PVR functionality and evaluates their current and future roles as a component for MADE systems. The drivers for and threats to the convergence of functionality towards a MADE system are also considered.

Keywords: convergence; copyright; digital television; digital TV; home theatre system; open source; PVR; personal video recorders; domestic video entertainment; digital video; electronic program guide; media; automation; data.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2008.021927

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.198 - 214

Published online: 09 Dec 2008 *

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