Converging ideas for future
technology By Manoj Rammohan
Watching
programmes on television will soon be a matter
of pure choice, thanks to the promising convergence of
television and computers.
As the conversation began, it was all about investing money and being an ‘Angel investor’ in the right place. The technological elements seemed to be alien to someone like Prakash Bhalerao, Chairman and CEO of Verismo Networks Inc, till he switched gears to the convergence of computers and television.
“The least path of resistance and risk is in making up your mind and investing in known ideas, that too in known people. With successes in previous ventures, I believe this technological convergence will be the next revolutionary concept,” he asserts.
Verismo Networks Inc is a US-based software company and has its R&D centre in Bangalore. Thanks to the booming and flourishing broadband networks across the country, ideas such as making television and computer into a single entity for entertainment purpose is gaining prominence like never before. Rather than being passive an audience watching the
programmes beamed by numerous channels, the whole initiative revolves around ‘video on demand’ - selecting just the stuff you want to watch at your convenience.
And here lies the new opportunities to explore the market, both technically and commercially. In terms of technology, the idea is to have software applications which can bring together different players in the communication arena.
“Broadband is proliferating like never before with higher bandwidth providing more options for the end users,” points out Mr Prakash.
Software solutions
Considering the increasing demand, Verismo has developed its own product called ‘Verismo Client Box’, similar to the set top boxes.
In his words, their product is made of four main components: i) Display: A large television screen to have high resolution images (something similar to the screens of Plasma TV) ii) Storage device: Used to store the favourite programmes and movies which can be replayed later iii) Network component: This will be the connection with the main server which will be used to get the required programmes iv) Computer parts: With a broadband connection for the television, certain functions of the computer are necessary for the smooth working of the system.
According to him, the aim is to come out with a software platform which will bring together the network distributors (those who provide the bandwidth), content providers (giving the entertainment stuff for viewing). This system will be user friendly catering to the specific needs of the end users. Verismo is expecting that client box will be reaching a larger mass by the end of the year and presently it is in the production deployment stage (being tried out by the client companies).
What next?. Here comes the response from Mr Prakash. “From television, the technology will move onto mobile phones.”
For ordinary people
Instead of browsing different channels looking out for the favourite programme, you are presented with specific choices. Once you switch on the screen, there will be a menu (which can be customised) listing different options.
For instance, you choose ‘Videos’ on the menu, then it goes to that particular section. There will be more choices to make such as ‘what sort of videos’ or whether to ‘download a new video’. Moreover, if you like to stop watching a movie midway and continue to watch it from the same scene where you left at, just store the movie. Also, the resolution can be very good and in due course, we can also enjoy High Definition (HD) images.