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Think about it...interactive televisions. A TV show where what you say happens, or even comes on the screen. Although being recidlious in concept, believe it or not we are not far away from it. For years shows like Mad Money and day-time talk shows listen to viewers via phone call and do what they think the show needs, but I'm talking more then just that. Shows like "Sportsnation" are ran on poles that viewers vote on online at their website, and whatever highlight they want to see comes on. The video is a literal democracy, with the power given to the people and for the people. The show is typically 60% material generated or suggested by fans, including videos from the internet, athlete Tweets, and online polling. The viewer now does not have to keep both hands on the remote, but can keep both hands on the keyboard so they can type away what they want to see. It is a match made in heaven, a sports show and interactive viewers. But what is stopping it from simply this? Will the next season of 24 involve texting into Jack to tell him which door to open? Will movies have online ballots to see if the basketball team decides to go for the tie or the win? The options are endless. Let me end with an example to keep you thinking. If the old media example comparable to this would be the "Goosebumps" books where you turn to a page indicating the option you choose, is the world just trending towards the same things just newer versions? It seems to me there is a "circle of life"
This is a very interesting concept. One I haven't heard about until reading this post. I think this idea of TV shows created in the form of a "literal democracy" is a great one. People love interactivity. I know my favorites books used to be the ones where I could choose the ending and decide what the bear, for example, would do next. This is a very similar concept, so I think it should have the same effect in which people start gravitating towards such television as their favorite.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this reminds me of a website we viewed for class one day, about the subservient chicken. In other words, the viewers get an option, but the options are not endless, as there are some things that the chicken does not understand or is unable to do. The same is true with this sort of TV, as I don't think it is possible for viewers to ever gain 100% control of the show. What do you think?