Future Internet: Mobile Phones Vs. iDTV
People around the world now access the internet not only at home but also in the public places. This makes the mobile phones and iDTV (Interactive Digital Television) priority tools for internet access now and protectively in the future. While mobile phones are preferred by some consumers, iDTV are preferred by others. Why is this so? Considering these two future proposals, it is pertinent to consider the elements of proposition for both the mobile/wireless and the iDTV assessment.
As there are visible conflict with the mobile nature of the mobile phones and the characteristics of the iDTV, this article aims at unveiling what the future holds for internet users and this would be examined as it relates to the access point and service (internet) availability, volume of information available per time, privacy, personalization, and security from the mobile/wireless proposition while the iDTV proposition focuses on access, personalization and security.
Mobile/wireless proposition
On one hand, the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) technology of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a security standard for computer users which provides end-users with the access to the internet through their mobile phones. In the UK, there are already more than 10,000 wi-fi hotspots in public places such as restaurants, hotels, cafes, libraries and airports, city centers. Shipments of WiFi-enabled mobile phones will double in volume by the end of 2010, compared to January 2008, and that growth curve is expected to continue through 2013, according to ABI Research. This data clearly shows Wi-Fi technology will continue to penetrate deeper into mobile handsets thereby increasing consumers’ awareness and demand, new operator business models, as well as augmented value for mobile phone makers.
With the ever developing technology in the mobile phone sector, mobile phone users now have easy Wi-Fi access that accepts varieties of functions. For example, this private device allows bypassing conventional networks and making inexpensive long-distance calls over the web using Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, geographic navigation, Dictaphone
As regards security, there is the belief that the continuous developing functionality of technology will overcome the safety concern.
The television set on the other hand was seen as the most popular form of public communication in the world today with 99.4% of households in UK having a television set coupled with BBC’s claim of 20million licence payers (BBC 2000). IDTV was introduced to tackle social exclusion as it was designed with the interactive features that have both strengths and weaknesses in terms of usage.
iDTV proposition
The feasibility of having more of an IDTV as against a mobile revolution in the future is minimal. There are substantial proofs that more businesses that larger percentage of the consumer population cannot do without like banks, retailers, and more are closing local branches and launching online services. This evidence gives more credibility to the mobile when compared to television in terms of subscribers mobility. Conventionally, television has overtime been a social focus point of the home with families and friends watching. As a weakness, the screen resolution of web television browsers is considerably smaller than the minimum obtainable from computers as well as mobile phones.
To properly assess the future intention of the IDTV, an understanding of its functionality is paramount to knowledge. IDTV is the combination of interactive television and digital television thereby enabling activities such as video on demand, home shopping & banking, internet access & e-mail. IDTV operates in three modes:
-the single mode that offers television viewing with its interactive features only and only one task at a time not the two together.
-the spontaneous viewing with the interactive function popping up while viewing is on
- and the pause mode which allows a live viewing to be paused so the viewer can participate wholly with the interactive services. All of these modes have their advantages and disadvantages such as the skipping of commercials during programme breaks.
However, figures indicate that approximately 36% of people in Britain use the Internet (which is three times more than two years ago) and 36% have a digital TV (e-MORI, March/April 2001). This is a major milestone with the uptake of digital TV equaling Internet usage for the first time. In October 2000, 6% of Internet users gained access through digital TV whilst only 5% used WAP phones. Three-quarters of users logged on from home rather than from work or elsewhere.
Conclusively, there is no doubt that the iDTV usage is increasing; nonetheless, there are limitations in the functionalities it can deliver. The main determinants of these arguments are the target audience (i.e. internet users), what they use the internet for, when they use it, where they use it and the privacy option as unique to each end user as well as the most preferred tool to access the internet. The mobile phones however remain the most dominant future access for the internet until iDTV technological constraints are conquered.
Refrences:
Ferguson s.Boulton c.(2008)“The future is mobile” eweek.com 14 jan 2008
zarr r.The Future of Mobile power potable design
BBC.com (2008) Q&A: Wi-fi explained
available on : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4758722.stm 8 march 2008
intomobile.com (2008) ABI Research: WiFi-enabled handset shipments to double from 2008 through 2010 available on: http://www.intomobile.com/2009/02/15/abi-research-wifi-enabled-handset-shipments-to-double-from-2008-through-2010.html 8 march 2008
People around the world now access the internet not only at home but also in the public places. This makes the mobile phones and iDTV (Interactive Digital Television) priority tools for internet access now and protectively in the future. While mobile phones are preferred by some consumers, iDTV are preferred by others. Why is this so? Considering these two future proposals, it is pertinent to consider the elements of proposition for both the mobile/wireless and the iDTV assessment.
As there are visible conflict with the mobile nature of the mobile phones and the characteristics of the iDTV, this article aims at unveiling what the future holds for internet users and this would be examined as it relates to the access point and service (internet) availability, volume of information available per time, privacy, personalization, and security from the mobile/wireless proposition while the iDTV proposition focuses on access, personalization and security.
Mobile/wireless proposition
On one hand, the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) technology of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a security standard for computer users which provides end-users with the access to the internet through their mobile phones. In the UK, there are already more than 10,000 wi-fi hotspots in public places such as restaurants, hotels, cafes, libraries and airports, city centers. Shipments of WiFi-enabled mobile phones will double in volume by the end of 2010, compared to January 2008, and that growth curve is expected to continue through 2013, according to ABI Research. This data clearly shows Wi-Fi technology will continue to penetrate deeper into mobile handsets thereby increasing consumers’ awareness and demand, new operator business models, as well as augmented value for mobile phone makers.
With the ever developing technology in the mobile phone sector, mobile phone users now have easy Wi-Fi access that accepts varieties of functions. For example, this private device allows bypassing conventional networks and making inexpensive long-distance calls over the web using Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, geographic navigation, Dictaphone
As regards security, there is the belief that the continuous developing functionality of technology will overcome the safety concern.
The television set on the other hand was seen as the most popular form of public communication in the world today with 99.4% of households in UK having a television set coupled with BBC’s claim of 20million licence payers (BBC 2000). IDTV was introduced to tackle social exclusion as it was designed with the interactive features that have both strengths and weaknesses in terms of usage.
iDTV proposition
The feasibility of having more of an IDTV as against a mobile revolution in the future is minimal. There are substantial proofs that more businesses that larger percentage of the consumer population cannot do without like banks, retailers, and more are closing local branches and launching online services. This evidence gives more credibility to the mobile when compared to television in terms of subscribers mobility. Conventionally, television has overtime been a social focus point of the home with families and friends watching. As a weakness, the screen resolution of web television browsers is considerably smaller than the minimum obtainable from computers as well as mobile phones.
To properly assess the future intention of the IDTV, an understanding of its functionality is paramount to knowledge. IDTV is the combination of interactive television and digital television thereby enabling activities such as video on demand, home shopping & banking, internet access & e-mail. IDTV operates in three modes:
-the single mode that offers television viewing with its interactive features only and only one task at a time not the two together.
-the spontaneous viewing with the interactive function popping up while viewing is on
- and the pause mode which allows a live viewing to be paused so the viewer can participate wholly with the interactive services. All of these modes have their advantages and disadvantages such as the skipping of commercials during programme breaks.
However, figures indicate that approximately 36% of people in Britain use the Internet (which is three times more than two years ago) and 36% have a digital TV (e-MORI, March/April 2001). This is a major milestone with the uptake of digital TV equaling Internet usage for the first time. In October 2000, 6% of Internet users gained access through digital TV whilst only 5% used WAP phones. Three-quarters of users logged on from home rather than from work or elsewhere.
Conclusively, there is no doubt that the iDTV usage is increasing; nonetheless, there are limitations in the functionalities it can deliver. The main determinants of these arguments are the target audience (i.e. internet users), what they use the internet for, when they use it, where they use it and the privacy option as unique to each end user as well as the most preferred tool to access the internet. The mobile phones however remain the most dominant future access for the internet until iDTV technological constraints are conquered.
Refrences:
Ferguson s.Boulton c.(2008)“The future is mobile” eweek.com 14 jan 2008
zarr r.The Future of Mobile power potable design
BBC.com (2008) Q&A: Wi-fi explained
available on : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4758722.stm 8 march 2008
intomobile.com (2008) ABI Research: WiFi-enabled handset shipments to double from 2008 through 2010 available on: http://www.intomobile.com/2009/02/15/abi-research-wifi-enabled-handset-shipments-to-double-from-2008-through-2010.html 8 march 2008
DataMonitor (2000), Digital Home in Europe: Perspective 2003http://www.DataMonitor.com/productdetail.asp?id=DMTC0661 Department for Trade and Industry (2000), 'Opportunity for all in a world of change', Government's White Paper on Enterprise, Skills and Innovation,http://www.dti.gov.uk/opportunityforall/ e-MORI (2001), Technology Tracker January 1997 - March / April 2001,http://www.mori.com
Wells, M. (April 16 2001), 'Digital give-away planned to kick-start the big television switch', Guardian On-Line,http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4171167,00.html
