JUNE 2000 BROADSHEET - Television, Computers and Phones
Our May meeting on Television, Computers and Phones was very well attended despite early fears that numbers would be low. People just took time to get going and the last minute rush for places nearly overwhelmed us. Could it be the influence of Cambridge Network's special meeting on Broadband Cambridge two days earlier to which many members went; free due to the Club's membership of that body. The normal meeting fee was £25!
Andrew Entwistle, Principal Consultant at Analysys of Cambridge, painted two possible scenarios of communications in the future. On the one hand a "Broadband Internet" encompassing what we have now but faster, better and covering TV, voice, entertainment and commerce with complete freedom. The other he called the "Walled Garden" as offered by cable and satellite whereby the special set top box or dish controls everything, but it is free. On the other hand it might not be so easy to access services outside the control of the service provider. It had its parallel with the present differences between BBC TV and ITV and Analysys had no idea which was going to prevail. The big boys like Sky, ntl and Times-Warner-AOL were making huge advances whereas BT, as was seen at the meeting on 23rd May, seemed to be lagging in it's application of broadband. Contacts: email: andrew.entwistle@analysys.com and www.analysys.com
Richard Marsden of the BBC Research Group at Kingswood Warren had come all the way from Surrey to give us the latest news on "Digitising Auntie". He also referred to their set top boxes, particularly one which could pick up where you were interrupted and allow you to carry on viewing as though nothing had happened, ie. playing what you had missed at the same time as recording the current showing which would then be tacked on seamlessly. They even had a way of recording and showing ITV programmes without the adverts, though this was strictly "not cricket". Much research was going into compression techniques whereby more channels could be transmitted on existing wave bands. Cotacts: email: richard.marsden@rd.bbc.co.uk and www.bbc.co.uk/rd
A lively discussion ensued, particularly over the power struggle for the best walled garden and whether it was going to be a Garden of Eden or an open prison. The two expressions which epitomised the possible outcomes were "Sit back", where you let things flow over you, or "Sit forward" where you took control.
I am personally stuck in the "Sit back" mode because having opted for ntl cable and their free internet, I have become one of 650,000 applicants waiting for their connection disks. My high hopes of having a new e-mail address, as announced last month are dashed for the time being, and I am having to continue with my old friend Demon. The telephone and fax has changed though as shown below.
No further notice will be going out, apart for e-mail to members, about the Cambridge University Engineering Department Open Days on Thursday and Friday 6th and 7th July. It will make you feel young again going round with all those enthusiastic sixth formers!.
For the Summer Annual Party we are exchanging one walled garden for another. There will be a mailing in July for this, which, if you remember, will be at Jesus College on Thursday 10th August.
The Club is very fortunate in benefiting from the sponsorship of the following organisations:-
There are also other companies who give us generous help with specific meetings and services.
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