Technology for All

Kishore C.S. (September 2000)

Adoption of technology to simplify things has been done well in US and may be in many other countries. The way technology has been adopted and used to make things simpler is quite amazing. Certainly growth of Cable TV has been very rapid in India. In just a few years it became a standard feature of every home. But the set of features that are available is very limited compared to the advanced countries. Or may be we are the ‘dumping ground’ for obsolete technology. Whatever it may, I just wanted to share little information on Cable TV Technology that is available in US.

Features of Cable TV:

Though I was scared at the number of remote controls in each house in US, I found the advantages of the same over a period of time. After coming back from US I always wished I had same features on my remote control. Going to the technology level of US may take quite a long time for developing countries like India because it involves infrastructure and enough investment. Instead of providing some very simple and easy features, I find new models of TV coming up with very silly features in India.

The following are the set of features I observed and felt were very nice to use

• Browse Channels by Category: Sports, Movies, Children etc. , By name, By favorites
• Check for program timings by name, by date: You can check for program for a few days at one time.
• Create a list of favorite channels and surf by favorites.
• Option to go back and forward between two channels.
• View Entire TV guide online
• View brief description about the program by pressing a button. If you switch on TV in the middle of program, clicking this button you can know what the program is and a brief description of the same. I liked this feature a lot.
• Set reminders for programs much in advance and view the programs without missing the same.
• Search for a program by entering the program name
• Apply Child Lock for channels.
• Choose to View the latest movies by paying money for the same.

TV looks like a mini computer with multiple remote controls and all the above features.

Adopting the best

Looking at other countries and learning from them has been a continuous practice for years. But importing technology cannot happen so easily. Ideas can get exchanged and implemented. But difficulties faced with technology are different. One either needs to develop the technology indigenously or buy the technology. Whatever may be the challenges I certainly hope everyone would get all advantages of technology over the years and companies and countries would continue to make efforts towards the same.