IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television and involves television (and other) content delivered to traditional television screens via internet protocols (Young, 2010). It is an excellent example of convergence media, combining the traditional entertainment value of television, with the speed, interactivity and global search ability of the internet. If the Internet is the love-child of the telephone and the computer, then IPTV is their grandchild.
The Sydney Morning Herald recently featured an article, TV’s the new PC (Easdown, 2011), discussing IPTV functionality and the coming impact to Australian viewing behaviours it may have. Synchronisation and accessibility between online tools and traditional one way media entertainment seem to be the key enhancements provided by this technology. Katz (2009) describes this as a move from Collectivist viewing, bringing everyone together in front of the TV, to a more Individualist stage where each party engages in specific content in their own time.
For children and young people, this will represent an extremely significant change in their traditional media consumption. To date, studies have indicated the number of hours for 0-6 and 8-18 year age brackets watching television and/or DVDs has outstripped time spent on computers or the internet , with the majority of this provided as traditional live television content (Rideout,Vandewater,&Wartella, 2003; Rideout,Foehr & Roberts, 2010). Clearly, TV is important to this demographic. Interestingly however, is that roughly a quarter of 8-18year olds watching the television, are also engaging in multiple media simultaneously : voting on fansites , looking up details on a laptop, texting, instant messaging about the show they are currently watching. This process of interaction with television outside of the show itself, is referred to as Teleparticipation by Ross (2008) and is a real time example of Jenkins’ Convergence Culture. IPTV will enable this synchronisation real time, within a single outlet: the television screen. . As Paul Reid(in Easdown, 2011), from Panasonic indicates: “ The television is no longer a one-way entertainment medium, but is entering a new era of becoming a truly interactive lifestyle experience’.
The accessibility of online content, speed and interaction provided by IPTV combined with favourite traditional television content presents a new challenge for parents and teachers when monitoring the experience of minors in this area. For educators too, the impact of IPTV will be profound. Two way communication, engagement and interactivity is paramount for increased understanding and achievement . IPTV will provide this like no other forum or media has before, in a visually rich, motivating and , eventually affordable environment. (Thompson & Chen, 2009). Australian schools, already have difficulty responding to the pace of advances in technology. The release of IPTV will widen the gap between the learning experience in schools, and home based entertainment and personal use unless funding arrangements and curriculum advances are addressed urgently.
References
Easdown, R. (2011). TV’s the new PC. Sydney Morning Herald, August 23, 2011.Retrieved October 12 from: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/tvs-the-new-pc-20110819-1j0p8.html
Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. New York: New York University Press.
Katz, E. (2009). The End of Television? Introduction, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 625(1).
Riodeout, V.J., Vandewater, E. A. and Wartella, E. A. (2003). Zero to Six: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers. Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, California.
Rideout, V.J., Foehr, U. G., and Roberts, D. F. (2010). Generation M₂: Media in the Lives of 8 to 18 year olds. Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, California.
Ross, S.M. (2008). Beyond the Box: Television and the Internet. Oxford :Blackwell.
Thompson, G. & Chen, Y.-F. R. (2009). IPTV: Reinventing Television in the Internet Age. IEEE Internet Computing, 13(3).
Young, S. (2010). There’s An App for That: Television and the Internet, Communication, Politics and Culture. 43(2)
I found your discussion on the apparent impact of IPTV on viewing habits to be quite interesting Lisa. Katz (2009) certainly seems to view IPTV as the demise of television, however, I find myself considering the issue from a different point of view. The notion that television has moved from the “collectivist” phase to the “individualist” phase (Katz, 2009) is, I think, premature. While we are certainly past the 50s television experience of sitting together as a family every night to watch the television, television still brings families together. The introduction of IPTV could make this family viewing time even easier because families will be able to watch programs at a time that best suits their schedule.
ReplyDeleteWith IPTV, accessing the internet can also become a communal event, which currently is a very solitary activity because computers are not really built for use by more than one person at a time. I have often witnessed children wanting to share something they have seen on the internet with others; IPTV certainly encourages this type of collaboration. I for one am glad to see the television evolving. As other technology has developed at a frantic pace, the television has remained, in essence, the same. The good thing about the IPTV function of the television is that you don’t have to use it. If you are resistant to the changing technology, you can still just use your television as it was originally designed, to watch television. But with all that other stuff out there, who wouldn’t want to forge ahead?!
References
Katz, E. (2009). The End of Television? Introduction. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 625(1), 6-18.