WMVS iTV Roundtable

WMVS iTV Roundtable

April 30, 2001, WMVS, Milwaukee, WI
The Milwaukee iTV Roundtable was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session focused on production related iTV issues. The afternoon session was devoted to educational applications of iTV. The two groups mixed during the lunch hour transition.

The Production iTV Roundtable attracted 15 media professionals from WMVS and seasoned interactive producers from the metro-Milwaukee area. The Roundtable began with an overview of digital television and digital multicasting options. For many participants, the overview was the first detailed explanation of how PBS stations expected to use digital broadcast technologies to enhance the viewing experience. David Felland, Director of Engineering and Operations for WMVS, explored several anticipated DTV applications and demonstrated an interactive CD (Frank Lloyd Wright) that incorporated potential iTV techniques.

Several of the producers had more than 15 years of interactive content design and production experience and suggested that iTV was just more of the same; a new technology re-exploring old techniques. The producers who were new to interactive program design believed that new DTV technologies offered a wealth of innovative programming opportunities. When asked for current programming suggestions that might benefit from digital multicasting, the producers mentioned ER, Antiques Road Show, Jazz, Soaps, American Family and Farmer's Wife. The producer of a local program, Outdoor Wisconsin, mentioned that he had been working on ways to create enhancements to a future digital broadcast version of the show.

The producers thought that iTV might be useful in building special interest communities. Concerns included the cost of content development, questions about available production tools, and cost recovery for labor intensive iTV productions.

The Education iTV Roundtable had 17 educators who represented the Milwaukee Public School system, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. For many in this group, this was their first exposure to interactive broadcast technologies. Several had experience with interactive video discs and CD ROMs, and thought that iTV might be more of the same. The DTV overview elicited strong statements of support for a delivery system that might help bridge the digital divide.

There was much discussion about intellectual rights issues, fair use, and curriculum development. The educators thought iTV would work well in the education arena, since the cost of delivery would be minimal. Information on demand could enhance learning. They felt that iTV was different from plain old TV and that if well done would be a memorable viewing experience. The concept of mutual reality was explored; the idea that people in different locations could explore the same content together using a combination of DTV and Internet back channel chat or Email options.

iTV may also help improve rural access to educational materials. Language preferences offered by multi-channel broadcasts could be localized to community needs. Overarching problems discussed included the cost of content design and production and the linking of iTV content to local and national curriculum standards.

Action items suggested included:
- Invite the groups back for additional roundtables, educators and producers in the same session
- Demonstration of actual iTV educational programming
- Seed projects that would demonstrate the educational value of iTV in the classroom
- Collaborative projects that would combine K-12 though university content in a single digital multicast program
- Convene an advisory group to advise WMVS on educational needs
- Hands-on iTV workshops for producers
- Select a locally produced program to enhance with iTV techniques