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Alviso, CA - The Tivo FutureVue+, the latest model of digital video
recorders, adds the ability to fast-forward through the television
program you are watching, before the show has even aired.
"In the past Tivo's features allowed viewers to pause what they are
watching while they answer the phone, or grab a snack", said Dennis
Halder, Tivo CEO. "But, this only allows watchers to see what happened
in the past. What our team has created allows watchers to see what is
going to happen in the future.
"Think of the benefits. If you are halfway through a soap and you
have to go out, you can just fast-forward to catch the final cliffhanger
so you can chat to your friends about it later"
Andrew Smelder, head of Tivo's R&D department explained the
system, "Simply the FutureVue+ contains a microprocessor capable of
stochastic reasoning that allows it to predict the future of a program
to within a small margin of error."
"Of course", Smelder added, "the margin of error depends on the type
of program. Soaps and Hugh Grant films are easy to predict, whereas live
shows are more difficult. Thankfully, as the FutureVue+ watches more of
the program, it improves its reasoning."
Many buyers may be disappointed to find that its features have been
restricted for some types of programming. The Las Vegas Gaming
Commission has complained that the ability to fast-forward through
sporting events could bankrupt bookmakers. To combat this Tivo has
agreed to install 'genre locks' on the fast-forward feature.
So
far Tivo is only set to stop you fast-forwarding through live sporting
events, however companies that make advertisements and infomercials are
said to be in talks with Tivo.
Smelder brushed this limit aside, elaborating on the features, "The
FutureVue+ not only allows you to see what is going to happen in your
program, but as the plus implies you can change the future of the
program as you see fit. Watching a Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode and feel the urge to see Wesley killed? Simple, just tell the
Tivo FutureVue+ how you want him to die and it will slowly twist the
plot in that direction."
Television companies have expressed concern at this feature of the
Tivo, saying that it probably allows watchers to come up with better
storylines than they can.
We approached Smelder at the end of the press conference to ask about
the genre limits: "I wouldn't worry too much about it, there will
probably be 'genre hacks' leaked onto the internet quickly after the
FutureVue+ being released," he replied. | 