Internet on the TV? A question with many doubts in the air

The Internet floods all types of mobile or fixed devices, from the computer to the door of a refrigerator, the Internet is present in our daily lives, but what about the television. There are theories for all tastes and despite the industry's reluctance, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Panasonic are taking steps to bring the Internet closer to the living room screen.

There is no doubt that every day we are getting more used to having the Internet anywhere and on any screen. Beyond our PC or phone, we find online content in the most diverse places from a bus shelter to an elevator or on the door of a refrigerator. But what happens on the television? Despite the numerous attempts that have been made in recent years, it seems that the relationship between the Internet and television is not going well... or is it? There are many semiconductor manufacturers that are making a move, however, television manufacturers seem not to be very excited about this 'marriage of convenience'.

Electronics industry specialists maintain that consumers relate to television as a passive means to continue lying on the couch. your television with a communication channel that you ingest, while lying on the couch. However, browsing the Internet on the computer is a more active activity. However, there are those who think that the real reason why the Internet has not definitively entered the television is a matter of price. Consumer electronics in recent years has been playing in the sale of televisions, with LCDs in free fall in price, with very tight margins, so the inclusion of the technology that would give access to the Internet and that would mean an extra cost in production.

Another issue that is holding back manufacturers is the issue of potential viruses. Although a user has become accustomed to fighting them on his PC, he would hardly admit to missing a league final because his television screen has 'hung'. As a solution to this problem, Intel presented the Intel Media CE3100 processor at the end of last year, a processor that does not support full navigation.

Intel takes positions

As for the operators, their opposition is completely reluctant. Online content providers like YouTube are already giving enough headaches to encourage the fox to enter the henhouse. However, it is not all doom and gloom. Manufacturers such as Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Panasonic have begun to market televisions that offer a series of widgets that facilitate online access to selected content related to weather, traffic or financial information. The announcement by Intel in the market of chips that facilitate navigability in the television has led other manufacturers such as Texas Instruments, NXP or Broadcom to reconsider their entry into this potential market with the consequent reduction in price that this technology would have in the coming months. Other companies such as Personal Web System, founded by former Intel executive Gordon Campbell, have fully entered this market, marketing a device for around 65 euros that allows televisions to have full access to the Internet.

Not immune to this process are also the set-top box manufacturers who consider this market as their off-limits territory. Furthermore, the fact that set top boxes are related to cable or satellite platforms would mean that the Internet service could be carried out through their servers, thus avoiding some problems such as the proliferation of viruses or the possibility of including parental controls.