Television 2.0

  • Article

Hi…

have you seen this https://www.techflash.com/microsoft/Microsoft_melds_game_show_with_video_game_in_bid_for_more_ads_53936297.html

??

This might be the biggest thing since the invention of TV some days ago.

In the recent past TV suffered from its uni-directional style. TV makers tried to come up with a back channel and used the phone. Nice thing about the phone was its ubiquitous availability. Another interesting aspect is that a phone call can be charged and therefore used to re-finance the show. Problem is that this channel is totally unbound but on the two ends of it. The consumer needs to have a phone right to the TV set. The TV broadcaster needs to combine the two ends on its side, too. And – in the end – since the two channels are not bound together naturally the problem is it might get out of sync.

The concept itself is amazing. Social gaming needs interaction between humans. The interaction is defined by a set of rules we call “the game”. But interaction needs communication channels and that how easy it is. If we see a central entity – the game master – to whom everybody needs to have a connection it is a simple star layout. You can play bingo for example with this setup. But what about the idea of having clusters of players being fully meshed and connected to the game master. Here the real social aspect comes into play since groups of people can interact.

Well, you see, here the telephone is not good enough anymore. OK, you might argue why not making a conference call and… well, it is getting a bit academic ;-) 

Now the internet offers a new channel which is bi-directional. Both the broadcasting and the back channel can be combined to one. So synchronization can be guaranteed. Next we can build multiple-channels, even between players and build clusters of fully meshed persons. Next the client can be used to render the stuff which reduces bandwidth needs on the channels and increase the experience of the player.

Also, refinancing can work – selling ads (or should I see googles ;-) or by charging for participation.

CU

0xff