t-learning - Future Scenarios - How do I? Do it yourself (DIY)

Janice is fed up with the sight of the wallpaper in her living room, but she can’t really afford to get a decorator and even if she did, it would take months for one to come. She sighed as she watched the TV programme “Changing Rooms.” She really wished her house could be chosen for a “makeover” just like those on the TV programme.

However, towards the end of the programme the presenter starts describing a new service that enables people to order their own DIY programmes or ask various “how do I?” questions about decorating or other topics The service varies according to how the viewer is receiving digital television and whether they can record programmes on a digital video recorder.

Viewers using a satellite TV service and who have a personal video recorder (PVR), can press the red interactive button on their remote control to take them to a menu of various DIY programmes that they can order for later viewing. Once a programme has been ordered, payment is debited to their satellite TV bill at the end of the month and the viewer is advised when the programme will be delivered to their PVR. This will vary depending on the demand for the programme. The higher the demand the quicker it will be broadcast via satellite to those that have ordered it and stored on their PVR often overnight, when the PVR may not be used for other purposes. It is much more efficient for the broadcaster to aggregate all the orders and then broadcast on one occasion. The programme then may be used off and on for several days before it is automatically erased from the PVR. During this time the programme could be stopped, started, fast-forwarded and rewound at will.

For viewers with digital cable TV or another two-way broadband connection, they can request a DIY programme on-demand or ask the question for example - “How do I start to redecorate my bedroom”? After an introductory video, the viewer is given a number of options to select depending on the skills they need to learn. Depending on the options that are chosen a new video-clip appears. If there is a problem with understanding how to do a particular task the viewer can rewind the video-clip and move it slowly forward or request another explanation from a different angle. In effect various video-clips are being called-up depending on the personal needs of the viewer.

Janice is fortunate in having digital cable TV so the rest of her evening is devoted to learning how she should set about changing the wallpaper in her living room. Armed with this new knowledge she sets off with confidence to buy everything she needs from the local DIY shop. Janice was able to access the programmes free of charge because they where sponsored by the DIY chain and to ensure that her loyalty with the company is maintained the TV presented her with a special code that she was able to give to the shop in order to get a discount.

Future Scenario - How do I? Do it yourself (DIY)