Computersight -

After long years of really interesting innovation, a part from the change of display technology and the higher resolution, which are only about technical improvements, the television seems to have awaken and start to understand that there other technologies that are rising to the eyes of the public and creating really interesting models.

One of the changes, most successful, has been with the last change of sets from the cathodic tube to the latests LCDs and PLASMAs high definition panoramic sets.

Manufacturers are always trying to find some differential point that will allow them to create competitiveness to the rest of manufacturers, and so from time to time, they are some interesting attempts.
The later two attempts, seems to be, SAMSUNG, LG, which are trying to be recognized as the first one to distribute a television with built-in WIFI.
The objective of the included WiFi, rather than to allow internet browsing from the comfort of your couch through your TV set, would be to ensure that the television can serve as a source or recipient of streaming. So, in the TV, you would be able to receive content from an entertainment center WIFI enabled, and projecting it in a large screen; or to generate a stream of the television signal to other recipients that would allow other viewers to enjoy of the emission using another TV / pc / WIFI device

It is a logical evolution of the TV, at least at one of its possibilities, mainly the reception of a stream, as today, the number of people who want to see their digital content, obtained legally or not, in high quality, is huge and some device manufacturers have been doing attempts to create their own media-center.

Is this something that you would want to have on your TV Set? I guess it will depend greatly on the price and consistency of the technology, because if the technology changes too fast, users may not want to buy a technology that will become obsolete in 6 months, and that causes the TV’s fashion worth 3000 Euros, unable to work with new conent. If technology changes too fast? Well, probably the users will still be willing to use their 100 euros worth hardware bought at their local hardware store, and replace it every time they would need.

The important is that the WiFi continues to be a comfortable format to exchange , and ever larger content, and it will be able to continue its evolution to support future demands of high-quality multimedia formats.

Personally I do not believe that the television will follow the same path taken by the mobile phones, and gradually absorb numerous functions from other equipment (photos, video, radio, Mp3 and now television), but I rather think that the media-centers will become open boxes , which can easily switch technologies and capabilities (a bit like PCs), and that the clients via WiFi devices will be the access content.

It is more than predictable that the increasing need for short-range wireless technologies with high bandwidths and very high speeds, with strong and reliable protection mechanisms will become the key of tomorrow content delivery at home.
Many investigators are already studying High Bandwidth local Wireless networks, being able to cover very small regions at very high rates. This will allow the creation of multi format/protocol networks grouped together to cover user´s communications speeds in different situations. UMTS (long) / WIFI (East) / Hyperband (local)?

The result? WIHD, a technology to allow the transmission of HD content over the air in the comfort of your home.

The future seems to be coming fast and it is only the beginning as the real competition is starting now.