Thesis ConceptDan Melinger Interactive Telecommunications Program, New York University 9 March 2004 1 = Overview Network and computer technology, and broadband network penetration into places people live, have improved to points at which a viable platform for the democratic distribution of passively consumed, community-centric entertainment and information content can be created. One major requirement for the creation of a successful example of such a platform is the design of a suitable user interface. I plan on designing some of the key components of the user interface to such a system. This will involve creating a system for the navigation of a large and dynamic library of a broad spectrum of content suited for many types of media consumers. Through this project I will begin to design such a system. In my design, there will be a few key innovations that provide important alternatives to existing content and distribution channels, like cable and satellite television, am/fm and satellite radio, and peer-to-peer networks like Gnutella and BitTorrent. The platform will utilize peer-to-peer technology with downloads and uploads between peers, a collaborative ratings system to ensure appropriateness and quality of content, and will utilize both current networks such as the Internet and LANs in addition to ad-hoc mesh networks. The hardware will consist of a set-top box that attaches to a television or video monitor, and has one or more network connections. The media, designed by a subset of the consumers, would ideally be suited for ìlean-backî, or passive consumption; it would not be deeply interactive similar to ìlean-forwardî computers. In completing this thesis, I will outline and explore the key features of the technology and implement a portion of a prototype user interface. 2 = Concept Diagram 
3 = Rationale Today, 90% of people in the U.S. receive television signals into their homes via cable or satellite transmission. These media distribution services and, to a large extent, the content they distribute are owned by a small and shrinking number of very large companies. Therefore, these companies are in a position to control much of the media that the population consumes. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is currently considering revisions to various sets of rules that could further ease restrictions on ownership. However, as broadband access to the Internet becomes commonplace in the home and the cost of computing devices drops, there is potential for a new type of network to emerge that provides people with access to entertainment, information, and personal connections that could replace and improve upon some of the functions of television, while increasing connections to external communities. By utilizing design innovations that provide advantages over the entrenched providers and by keeping the desires of consumers in mind, this technology could become a compelling complement or alternative to the portfolios of services provided by traditional media distributors. The following circumstantial factors contribute to the need for this platform:
Personally, I have spent time in the production and distribution of television, radio, and interactive content. I have noticed in others, and experienced myself, the difficulty of finding quality content and information when I know that there is so much available on the Internet. Much creativity today is devoted to computer-distributed content, but much of this content would be more efficiently consumed in a passive manner and if there were better techniques for helping consumers to find what they might be interested in. In tandem with this, if channels for the distribution of independently created media were more readily available and widely utilized, its quantity and quality would likely increase. Furthermore, Iím frustrated by much of what I see on television today. Though the number of television channels has multiplied in the last decade, ownership of these channels has consolidated and this, along with other factors, is leading to a decrease in the variety of views and artistic ideals expressed. Concurrently, content and advertising are quickly becoming a single entity. In order to keep the quality of content high, these elements need to be separated once again.
4 = Goals My goal in designing this platform is to design a forum for creative content and information that entertains and enriches peopleís lives and helps them to build meaningful connections to other people. Through the accomplishment of this goal, I hope to incite people to think about how such a system might be built and to eventually work with others to build something based on these ideas. The user interface that I design would ideally be suited to all users or a subset of users that I decide to define in the near future. It would be comfortable to use, ergonomic, efficient and flexible. My hope is that it would adapt to users as it learns more about them. While it would make guesses as to how a user would like to interface the system, the interface would also be highly configurable in the likely case that the user needs to make specific changes in how they use the system. My specific goal is to create physical and software prototypes for all or a portion of the user interface for the user group that I choose to define. It would be usable by anyone wishing to learn more about how to use the system and could be presented through both a formal presentation and in the context of a public showing.
5 = Core Features The core features of the platform in general would include the following:
Based upon user preferences, the platform will be able to filter and arrange content based on criteria such as the following:
Using the aforementioned criteria, a device running the platform will attempt to create an interesting and useful program for the user, taking into account the userís needs and wants and how well successive content goes together. The platform could be deployed in different ways. For a business or closed community, it could be deployed only on a local area network (LAN). For users who want global access to media and distribution, it could be deployed on the Internet. For users who are physically close to each other to share media, it could be deployed via a mesh network of devices all connected to each other through wires or wireless networking. Hybrids of these approaches are also possible, and probably represent the ideal method of deployment. The user interface, based on the above general description of the platform, would allow users to navigate the system in an effective manner. The specific core features of the user interface have yet to be determined.
6 = Timeline / Process
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