James Delahunty
4 Sep 2007 18:41
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV is developing a personalized video recorder application that automatically learns a viewers' preferences and creates a channel based on them. The company is showing of a prototype application at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin. The application, which is intended for use with a PC or in a set-top box, could eventually compete with the offerings from TiVo Inc.
The best new feature that Philips is developing, is the system's ability to monitor a user's viewing habits and create personalized channels, using an algorithm developed by the company itself. "The set-up is really easy," said Jeroen Cappendijk, business development manager of Philips' Personal TV Channel product. "You just create a channel and select a program. The system monitors your zapping habits and automatically refines your channel."
The software will also perform the intelligent feature for multiple users in the same household. TiVo has a similar system called TiVo Suggestions, but it requires that a user mark programs it likes and it determines other shows they might like based on those tastes, like many retail websites that make suggestions based on your purchase history.
Another function that makes this application look good is a "unified content" function, that combines both TV content with Internet video such as that from YouTube and other sources. A PC version of the software will be available next year as a free download for users running Windows Vista, with Philips hoping to make its money through its personalized advertising capability.
Source:
Yahoo (PC World)