Lots of companies are looking at the TV as the next Web space, IBM has taken a proactive step and is patenting ideas for the space. A patent filed earlier this year by IBM describes a platform for “automatic blogging of media viewing using an enhanced remote controller, suitable for use while viewing media programming and content.”
IBM is pointing the remote at social media couch potatoes.
The patent describes the system, saying it will allow the “viewer to autoblog about currently experienced media programming in real time without having to resort to direct interaction with a computer to perform the autoblogging.”
It could possibly tweet what you’re watching when you decide to flip the channel or when you put down the remote and pick up a video-game controller, without the user ever inputting those precious few characters.
IBM is aiming at two-way blogging while using the TV. The patent discusses communicating back and forth with other users on a blogging service via the remote. The remote patent lists Joost, Facebook and Twitter as services it could interact with.
The patent shows IBM is has the ability to develop this type of peripheral system that would engage the user amid other activity. It could move the platform to other types of CE without needing to develop its own social networking service.
The patent gives no clue as to when, or even if, IBM will develop the remote into an actual product. Web-enabled TV sets are starting to hit the shelves and almost every TV maker will have one out by the end of the year.