Java TV Technology

What Java TV Technology Can Do

The Java TV API provides an ideal development and deployment platform for the emerging class of interactive television services. The Java programming language provides content developers with a high degree of control and flexibility over the look and feel of their applications, enabling them to deliver the most dynamic and compelling interactive television experiences to their audience.

One of the more powerful value additions that the Java TV API can bring to the emerging digital TV marketplace is its ability to significantly enhance broadcast content. The Java TV API enables developers to pump up content in several ways, including:

• providing TV viewers with engaging interactivity
• real-time displays of relevant, contextual information in parallel with standard TV programming
• electronic commerce transactions initiated from advertising spots, programming, or applications such as home banking
• real-time interactive communications with TV personalities and animated characters

Through Java technology extensions, developers and providers can create content that takes full advantage of the underlying video, audio and graphics hardware of a digital television or set-top box. The Java platform allows developers to synchronize the display of application elements such as bitmaps and text with the underlying video or background audio of the television broadcast. In addition, transparency-to-video and graphics layering capabilities give developers more flexibility and control over the appearance of these application elements.

User Scenarios

Here are some scenarios that highlight what is possible with the Java TV API.

Enhanced TV Broadcasting

API: User Scenarios  Enhanced TV Broadcasting

It's a big day for Ricky. He and a couple of his dorm buddies are ready to watch an NBA game between the San Jose Speed and the Cupertino Cannonballs. They're big Speed fans. Their college subscribes to the local cable company's premium services that provide enhanced broadcasting, such as real-time scores and statistics, fun betting, video sports cards, chat with the players, and so forth. While waiting for the game to start, Ricky and his friends amuse themselves by checking out some action sports cards. With the premium service remote control, they bring up a roster of the team to select their favorite players. Each player's action card appears semi-transparently laid over the current scheduled program. The action cards display the "best of" action sequences from the players' careers in the form of compact animations that comprise up to 10 frames. In addition to the action stuff, these cards also feature the most current statistical information as well as still images and data about their personal lives. Ricky's favorite animation shows Bobby Dunkwell in '96 missing an easy slam dunk shot although he's virtually alone at the end of the court. No way! Meanwhile, the game has started. Ricky uses the premium service remote control to put up the dynamic scoreboard, DynaBoard, in the upper right corner of the screen for real-time Cannonballs/Speed scoring and foul information. During a break, Ricky's friend uses the DynaBoard to quickly check out another NBA game in progress. Back to the evenly matched game, Ricky asks DynaBoard to display the final score from the last Cannonballs/Speed game alongside the current scores. Now the game hits a gut-wrenching stretch as the Cannonballs surge ahead. Ricky plays with the Java technology-enabled multi-view feature allowing him to select different camera angles for viewing the game. Does he want to try the overhead cam? Yes, but his friends urge Ricky to switch to the center court cam as the Speed steal the ball. How about the Bobby Dunkwell cam? Ricky's just in time for a close view of the net as Jordan slam dunks the ball. Yo dudes! The Speed are back in the game. Channel-Independent Stock Ticker API: User Scenarios  Channel-Independent Stock Ticker Jessica watches her stock portfolio closely. She knows that an economic sneeze in Brazil propels shock waves around the globe while a casual remark at dinner by Alan Greenspan sends day traders scurrying to buy or sell. Jessica doesn't have anything in particular to worry about today, but she likes to keep an eye on her stocks, even when she watches TV. On this Thursday night, she turns on the TV, tunes into a local news show, and selects the stock ticker applet from her customized control bar. A translucent stock ticker banner labeled "My Stocks" appears above the control panel. Her portfolio of stocks scrolls by with the latest report, which is frequently updated unless the market is closed. Underneath the first banner is a second one labeled "NASDAQ." As the NASDAQ stocks scroll by, one high-tech stock catches Jessica's eye. But where's the remote control? Oops, she's sitting on it. Jessica digs out the remote, scrolls back to the stock she saw, then moves that stock into the "My Stocks" banner so she can monitor it over the next few weeks. Although Jessica turns the channel to watch her favorite drama, her stock ticker remains on screen. When she has had enough of the stock market, Jessica uses her remote to hide the scrolling stock banners. reference URL: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javatv/tech/index.html