IP: New Intercast medium announced

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

> To: ietf () CNRI Reston VA US
> From: Abel Weinrib <AWeinrib () ibeam jf intel com>


> Thought you might be interested in the recently announced "Intercast(TM)"
> medium, which links Web pages and associated television programming.  The
> Web pages are broadcast using the vertical blanking interval of the
> television signal and cached on the local machine.
>
> This technology effectively extends the Web to any computer connected to a
> television antenna or cable.  When the computer also has an upstream
> connection to the Internet (e.g., via a telephone modem to an Internet
> Service Provider), users can follow links embedded in the broadcast pages to
> content available elsewhere on the Internet.
>
> The medium is based on open industry standards, including many from the IETF.
>
> I've attached the press release below; for more information, visit
> http://www.intercast.org.
>
> ==============
> Leaders in PC, Broadcast and Cable Industries Announce Formation of
>        Industry Group to Promote New Digital Medium for the Home PC. 
>
>
>
>     Intercast Medium Combines the Digital Power of the PC, the Global
> Interactivity of the Internet and the Rich Programming of Television
>
> SANTA CLARA, CA, October 23, 1995 -- Media companies NBC, Turner
> Broadcasting's CNN Interactive, Viacom and WGBH Educational Foundation;
> programmer QVC, cable operator Comcast; software developers, America Online,
> Asymetrix, En Technology and Netscape Communications Corporation; PC
> manufacturers Gateway 2000, Packard Bell and technology provider Intel
> Corporation, announced the formation of the Intercast Industry Group to
> promote a new
> medium called Intercast. The new Intercast medium, which links the Internet
> and television on your PC, is a combination of Intercast technology
> integrated in new
> home PCs accessing new Intercast content developed by television programmers.
>
> Intercast Technology
> PC users equipped with Intercast technology will receive broadcast Web pages
> and other data combined with associated cable or broadcast TV programming. It
> will bridge the gap between broadcast programming and the fast-growing
> Internet, creating a new digital medium for entertainment, education and
> information on
> powerful personal computers in the home. Intel will be developing the
> underlying Intercast technology. Intel's Internet Technology Lab has
> developed working
> prototypes which are currently being tested with home PC users. PC
> manufacturers will be developing Intercast-enabled PCs and content providers
> will be creating
> content with the goal of widespread availability in the second half of 1996.
>
> Intercast Content
> Intercast content will be created with HTML, the language of the World Wide
> Web, and will include hyperlinks to related information on the Internet. Using a
> modem and any direct Internet connection, PCs with Intercast technology will
> be able to move transparently between Web pages sent with the television
> broadcast
> to related Internet sites.
>
> Intercast technology will allow content providers to create new interactive
> content-- text, graphics, video or data-- around their existing programming
> and deliver
> this content simultaneously with the TV signal to PCs equipped with
> Intercast technology.
>
> For example: 
>
>     A breaking news story could be linked to additional information on the
> geography or historical background of the event. 
>     A television police drama could allow a viewer to watch the program
> while also viewing clues, the DNA reports and other information not seen on
> TV. The
>     viewer could try to solve the case before the onscreen detectives do. 
>     A music video could air with Web pages featuring concert dates and
> hyperlinks to independent fan club information on the Internet. 
>     Sports programs, like the Olympics, could provide broadcast Web pages
> with information on individual athletes and live, continuous statistics on
> the athlete,
>     the game, and/or the league. 
>     A fashion program could be accompanied by broadcast web pages allowing
> the viewer to purchase highlighted apparel instantaneously 
>
> Because the Intercast medium will use existing communications infrastructure
> and open industry standards from the broadcast, PC and Internet industries,
> it can be
> quickly and inexpensively deployed. Open specifications will also make it
> easy for software and hardware developers to create new applications for the
> Intercast
> medium. "The Intercast medium brings together the best parts of the
> television and computer industries -- the creativity of the TV industry, the
> depth and breadth of
> the Internet, and the interactive power of the personal computer," said
> Steve McGeady, Vice President of Intel's Internet Technology Lab.
>
> The Intercast Industry Group
> The industry group established today will have the charter to create and
> promote the Intercast medium as a broadly accepted, open system that will spawn
> industry-wide implementations. The Intercast Industry Group activities will
> include dissemination of information and education on Intercast technology
> and content.
> Membership will include technology providers, PC manufacturers, software and
> hardware developers, content providers, advertisers and cable companies. For
> information regarding membership in the Intercast Industry Group please see
> the website located at http://www.intercast.org