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Television rushes to embrace the Internet -- and vice versa
January 10, 1997
Web posted at: 11:45 p.m. ESTFrom Correspondent Brian Nelson
LAS VEGAS (CNN) -- A brief stroll through the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas drives home the point: computers are muscling their way into an increasing array of products.
Televisions, cellphones, beepers all have begun adopting some form of computing capability, all with the Internet in mind.
"I think it's sneaking into people's heads that they need these things," said Sean Kelly of Computer Life Magazine. "They need Web TV or some similar kind of tool to see what's going on."
A new survey indicates consumers may be cool to the idea of surfing the Internet on their TV, but some of the big appliance makers are betting heavily they will.
Zenith, for instance, said its partnership with Oracle, is promising by summer a new line of Netvision televisions with built-in Internet capability.
"It's sneaking into people's heads that they need these things"
Sean Kelly
There are similar plans at Thomson Multimedia. The electronics giant proudly showed off prototype designs for its network computer, as it prepares to gamble on what devices consumers actually want.
Plans range from wood models that plug into the living room television, to a kitchen appliance that looks like a coffeemaker.
"It will allow you access to the Internet, conduct e-mail, call down recipes," said Lou Lenzi, vice president of Thomson Multimedia.
In Japan, Sharp Electronics also is a strong player in the convergence game, although it is debating when to introduce its new TV-computer hybrid into the U.S. market. The cost: $3,000.
An offshoot of this is a service from Viewcall America that pulls together favorite Internet sites and services, making the Internet experience as simple as watching TV.
"We're taking the television and putting it on the Internet," said Alan McKeon, CEO of Viewcall America.
Both industries may be groping toward the future, but they've convinced it's going to be bright.
Special section:
CNN Interactive's extended coverageRelated stories:
- Surfing the Internet on TV may be a tough sell - December 27, 1996
- What's on TV? How about the WWW - December 20, 196
- Web surfing for the impatient, and the techno-timid - September 10, 1996
Related sites:
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- 1997 International Winter Consumer Electronics Show
- Thomson Multimedia
- Zenith
- Sharp Electronics
- Viewcall America
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