Table of Contents For This Issue

Heard on the Net

News about People and Companies influencing The Broadband Home

Briefly Noted: Updates, Observations and Trends

Each month, we collect miscellaneous happenings, studies, trends or observations you might have missed. This month's briefs focus on examples of innovative applications, the increased focus on "smart grid," a view on what "unserved" means, world broadband statistics and recognition of a cooperative cable effort.

Cable's Capitol Return -- Cable Show 2009

One speaker referred to it as "the return of the victim to the crime scene" but this year's Cable Show was a welcome visitor to the US Capitol. After years of iTV on the horizon, its presence was ubiquitous -- this time with all the advantages of common software platforms.

Broadband Nation: "Main Street America"

The Broadband Nation exhibit was a great way to show Washington bigwigs the impact cable services have upon consumers at home and at work, as well as the benefits it can bring to healthcare and education. Despite some hokey names--like the "Dr. Al Better" office--we were impressed with the impact of innovative applications like GCI ConnectMD.

Tru2way and EBIF Provide Interactivity

The message from the Cable Show was clear. The industry has finally rallied around and is implementing common software platforms to allow linear TV to become interactive. We provide some background on the "what, why and when" of tru2way and EBIF, while reminding readers that the ultimate vote on acceptance will come from the consumer.

Tru2way Demos--Seeing is Believing

The only way to convey what is happening in a tru2way interactive application is to see it. We feature tru2way video demos from Panasonic, ADB, AMDOCS, NDS, Alticast, integra5, itaas, TAG Networks and Zodiac Interactive.

EBIF For the Masses

Although EBIF is designed to run on even low-end digital settops, the demonstrations showed how many interesting things can be achieved with this basic functionality. These video demos show ways to give viewers more choice and control in a Starz application, the many things that can be done with ad widgets from BIAP, and how ActiveVideo builds on EBIF capability to enhance social media and e-commerce with live Internet content.

CableLabs Plays Central Role

CableLabs has once again assumed a central role in coordinating industry participation to establish standards, this time for tru2way and EBIF. The organization has been active in evangelizing these technologies with interactive content providers. CableLabs' latest contributions are a source code reference implementation of tru2way, and an announcement with Canoe Ventures of the Advanced Advertising 1.0 specification.

Upcoming Conferences

We're excited about the possibility that telehealth may finally be moving toward wider usage and acceptance. We hope to see some of you at the upcoming Healthcare Unbound conference in Seattle in June.