Press Release – Immediate
1 February 2002
Learning via interactive Digital TV is it really going to happen?
- A challenge to the Industry“t-learning” – TV-based interactive learning to the home
As the consumer market for interactive digital TV is starting to develop, government and education and training agencies throughout the world are starting to look at it’s potential for creating new opportunities for learning in the home.
But will this really be possible?
Will the industry be able to offer the solutions that will make learning through interactive TV and related technologies a reality?
Will this create new opportunities for lifelong learning in the emerging knowledge-based society?
Will those in the learning business be able to use interactive TV to reach people who don’t have an internet-enabled computer in their home?
Who will provide the content?
Who will manage the services?
These are some of the questions that will be asked in a major new European funded global study that is starting today. The study will look into the state of the art of “t-learning” – TV-based interactive learning to the home by analysing: -
The market trends in the uptake of TV-based digital interactive services across Europe and other parts of the world.
Alternative potential solutions for e-learning via a television set rather than a computer, particularly for households that do not have access to a computer.
Existing research into human learning and cognitive processes through the use of TV-based interactive learning and what additional research will be needed.
The study will make recommendations as to what future research and means of intervention if any are needed by government and other agencies to stimulate the development of the t-learning market.
The study will be led by Peter Bates of the pjb Associates – the Cambridgeshire, England based consultancy. It is a follow-up to a similar study conducted by pjb Associates for the European Commission during 1999.
According to Bates: -
“Three years ago the digital TV market was very immature – with only a few examples existing of learning through digital TV – mainly in the form of “edutainment” (education combined with entertainment). Interactive TV services in the form of “walled gardens” appeared be the norm, but at premium rate that even some retailers were unable to sustain – never mind the more cost sensitive education and training market. Over the last three years the interactive digital TV market – including personalised TV via video on demand services and personal digital video-recorders has tended to develop rather slowly. It has been very difficult for those in the “learning business” to know whether they should seriously consider interactive TV as an alternative to reaching learners in their homes compared to using an internet-enabled computer.
This year-long global study will aim to help education and training policy makers better understand these trends and developments. However, according to Bates:
“We need the industry to come out of the closet and show us what lower-cost solutions they can offer for learning in the home. E-learning is high on the agenda of many governments as a way to overcoming “social exclusion” and avoiding a “digital divide” – but it is up to the industry to develop the technology solutions and offer sustainable services.”
Additional Notes for editors
1. Peter Bates of pjb Associates can be contacted on +44 1353 667973 (24 hours) or email pjb@pjb.co.uk
2. Peter Bates will also be available for interviews at Milia in Cannes, France on 7-8 February 2002 (http://www.milia.com) Tel +44 7939 567409
3. Further details about t-learning and this study are available at http://www.pjb.co.uk/t-learning.htm
4. The Final report of the 1999 study “Development of Satellite and Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Systems and Services and Implications for Education and Training” is available at http://www.pjb.co.uk/dbtfinal.htm
5. This current study is funded by the European Commission Information Society Technologies Programme Key Action III - Multimedia, Content and Tools (http://www.cordis.lu/ist/ka3/home.html) – Education and Training (See http://www.proacte.com/infocentre/ecinfo/ist.asp)
Additional Information
The study will identify: -
- Existing examples of good practice through the creation of a series of case studies.
- Existing and emerging technology and service configurations for TV-based interactive services including: -
i. Broadcast interactive digital TV through satellite,
cable and digital terrestrial including digital
teletext and “walled garden” interactive services.ii. Interactive Personalised TV through
video-on-demand type services using cable and
xDSL services – server based services (local
switch).iii. Use of Personal Digital Video Recorders (PVRs or
PDRs) – client (home) based services.iv. Use of lower cost set-top boxes for accessing the
Internet on a TV via a telephone line.v. The types of learning that are most appropriate
through t-learning.
- The key players involved
- Regional differences to the potential uptake of t-learning services across Europe
- In particular the study will aim to identify any barriers to the development of t-learning services due to: -
The development of technologies
Pedagogical constraints
Socio-economic constraints
Organisational constraints
Regulatory constraints
- Through a consensus forming exercise a number of future t-learning scenarios will be created which will assist in identifying the factors that will stimulate and constrain the development of sustainable services.
- Identify the future market for t-learning services within and outside Europe.
- Make recommendations as to what future research and means of intervention are needed to stimulate the development of the t-learning market.
Press release issued by: -
pjb Associates
52 St Andrews Way
Ely
Cambridgeshire
CB6 3DZ
United Kingdom