Internet enabled television is an innovative feature incorporated in the television technology. By offering internet access capability to the television, technology is opening new vistas in the field of information and entertainment segments of consumer electronics. The user will be able to run software to receive information from websites directly through the television without using computer and broadband service. Many of the modern manufacturers in the electronic industry have introduced widget service to make television an internet enabled appliance. Such an innovation is a remarkable achievement of the evolving technology. Television users will have access to the internet even in areas where facilities to operate a computer may not be available.
The market is now offering LCD television with widget service which is capable of offering internet. The television remote has replaced the key board and mouse. It is Yahoo! who made a collaboration arrangement with television makers Samsung in this respect. The Samsung LCD television is now internet enabled and the viewer can gain access to selected websites. The only prerequisite is that the television should be compatible with the new technology. Initially the facility was available only in United States, but now the operational area is being expanded to about twelve countries in Europe. Samsung’s widget is branded as Internet@Tv service.
There are other television brands which are internet enabled. The Panasonic VIERA internet enabled HDTVs are offering easy access to websites. The sophisticated technology is capable of downloading videos from You Tube, through the Panasonic plasma television. VIERA is also made available initially in the United States and they are planning to expand the facility to Europe. An important factor of VIERA is that it is compatible with DLNA and recognized by many leading companies including Microsoft.
Sony Bravia LCD Series has introduced a similar internet access widget which is capable of making their LCD televisions internet enabled. ‘Applicast’ as it is known is also based on the principles of other widget applications. It is also compatible with DLNA specifications. Philips television has their net TV which enables the television to have quick access to internet. The system, as pointed out earlier does not require key board, mouse or set top boxes etc. Philips has made all their television products internet enabled.
All the above widget services promoted by various companies are available in the United States only in the initial stages and gradually being expanded its territories to European countries. But this most innovative and productive technology will definitely become available through out the world in the near future.
