Google TV: What is It?

Google has managed to merge television and the Internet through a software platform called Google TV. The Google TV service is based on the Android mobile operating system, with LogiTech offering a set top box, Sony offering compatible televisions (and a Blu-ray player), and the Dish Network offering a DISH box to enable this application (1).

Several technical specifications are required in order to make Google TV work on a "standard" TV: Wi-Fi capability, an atom (or higher) processor, Bluetooth, IR, HDMI-out, discrete GPU, and Ethernet (2). A keyboard and a pointing device are also needed. Intel has the contract to create compatible chips for the TVs, and Best Buy has agreed to sell the boxes and compatible TV sets. Consumers who already have TV sets with cable or satellite hook-up should find Google TV set top boxes fully compatible with their current hardware.

How will Google TV work? When users turn on the Google TV device, they will see a search bar appear on the TV screen, much like on a standard computer screen. Users will then type in their desired television program, station, or channel. The search engine will display the requested item (or items), whereupon the users will click on the link (or links) and open it (them). Just like with any standard Google search engine results page, multiple items will be capable of being clicked on and opened. Likewise, multiple channels, programs, etc., will be capable of being watched simultaneously.

What if the program is only available via Amazon's streaming service, or through Netflix? Because Google TV uses the Google Chrome search tool, users are able to open up web pages and then select their desired program or video (3). Even better, because Google TV requires Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, users can load desired web pages onto their Android phones and then beam them over to the TV. Google TV also works via the Android's voice recognition feature, enabling users to load or switch programs simply by speaking. As an added bonus, videos formatted in Adobe Flash are fully compatible on Google TV.

Naturally, Google TV users are also able to access the Android App Store and purchase Apps designed specifically for their TV sets.

One of the big selling points of Google TV is in relation to its hearing-impaired customers: closed captioning is instantaneously typed out through Google Translate. Likewise, programs and channels provided in other languages are also translated instantaneously.

The only potential drawback to Google TV is that some web sites may appear grainy or unfocused when displayed on the TV screen. This is because not all web sites are currently optimized for Google TV resolution. Google will soon offer software development kits for full web site compatibility.

Web TV is not a completely new phenomenon. MSN TV already offers its customers the option of surfing the Web from their TV sets (4). Conversely, ChannelChooser allows users the option of viewing various TV stations and programs for free from their computers (5). The major limitation with surfing the Web from one's television set has been the resolution of the TV screen. However, software programs have recently been released that allow one to convert data presented on a computer screen to a television screen format (6).

Resources:

1. Google TV Unveiled http://www.e-gear.com/article/google-tv-unveiled-25005297/1

2. What is Google TV? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37261531/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

3. Google I/O: Are Google, Intel and Sony gearing up to change the TV experience? http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/google-io-are-google-intel-and-sony-gearing-up-to-change-the-tv-experience/34572?tag=mantle_skin;content

4. MSN TV http://www.webtv.net/pc/

5. ChannelChooser- Watch online TV channels live on the Internet. http://www.channelchooser.com/

6. TV Crossover Link Software for WebTV http://www.cpcweb.com/Web_TV/web_tv_splash.htm