The Virtual Channel Model for Personalized Television

This research is based on the realization that the desktop computing paradigm is not appropriate for television, because it is adapted to fundamentally different user aspirations and activities. Instead, the virtual channel is proposed as a model that explains the proper design of user access to personalized television programming. The virtual channel is a model that aids the organization and dynamic presentation of television programming from a combination of live broadcasts, prerecorded content and Internet resources at each set-top box. In this paper, we describe two applications that have been used to validate the virtual channel model. We have employed the properties of the virtual channel model into the design of personalized television advertising and interactive music video clip programming. Finally, we describe an ActiveX control that implements a core set of the virtual channel’s features.