The undeniable future of television and the platform that promises to open up interactivity to the masses. No longer will people at home simply be viewers while the TV is on. Viewers will become ‘viewsers’ and will be able to interact with programmes, order goods, access information and, most importantly, play. Online gaming will become a major aspect of digital television and the opportunities for branding, revenue generation and added value should not be under-estimated.
The penetration of digital television is going to continue to rise over the next few years. Ultimately every person currently watching terrestrial television will switch over to iDTV. The limited power of set-top boxes available now are going to give way to more powerful and more adaptable pieces of equipment which will open up more sophisticated games to a market desperate for addictive and compelling multiplayer gameplay.
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Multiplayer gaming
Hi2 has developed technology which allows iDTV players to compete against each other and with players through the Internet or using wireless Internet applications. This simplifies the matchmaking process involved in online gameplay making it easier for companies to benefit from the rising number of viewers keen to experience online gaming.
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The future
Hi2 is continuing to develop technology for what will become the most popular medium for internet access and online gaming. We are already pioneering multiplay technology for iDTV and are introducing cross-platform gameplay to include as many people as possible in the online gaming revolution.
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The leading edge
There are a variety of different formats currently being used in the iDTV market. Hi2 technology can be adapted to function across all formats.
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Open
Dominating the market in the UK, powering SKY's iDTV offering, Open is proving to be one of the leading operating systems for digital TV.
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Liberate
Another key player, Liberate, combines digital TV and internet technology to produce an enhanced TV environment. An HTML/JavaScript GUI incorporating interactive elements such as Java and Flash interfaces with the digital broadcast signal to deliver highly interactive television.
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Web TV
Digital TV platforms using basic HTML/Javascript combined with video streams can still provide compelling content. Users can access e-mail, view websites, chat and of course, play online games.
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Hi2 DTV
Hi2's TVML product is a highly adaptable scripting language, designed for digital TV.
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