IDTV 2013 - Fourth Workshop on Interactive Digital TV in Emergent Economies ? Thinking Outside the “TV” Box

More than only an entertainment media, Interactive Digital TV Sets have been used as efficient tools to improve people’s lives. Digital social networks, E-government, E-bank, and many other digital applications are been moved to the TV world and are already accessible in many communities in Europe. As a matter of fact this movement is the proof that the information age is a reality and it is possible to witness several actual examples of how people's lives have been transformed in this new era. Access to information has become easier and people work cooperatively despite being scattered around the globe, even in extremely remote locations, all at low costs. Overall, wireless communication has revolutionized the lives and work of many people and, with the ever growing miniaturization in electronics, many new devices have been developed and inserted in every-day life.
With the deployment of Interactive Digital Television in emerging economies in South America like Brazil and Argentina, in India, China, Russia, in Africa and in West Europe countries, there is a growing demand for new services and content to be provided, as well as many ways of integrating these new features with existing technologies. Within the scope of this workshop we would like to focus on ‘thinking outside the box’ of traditional DigitalTV platforms ? we aim at contributions in the wider field of audio-visual services in emerging countries.
Additionally to its natural potentiality for digital inclusion, the Interactive Digital Television provides a great incentive to its adoption, for it means a cheaper way to supply access to technology and knowledge in emerging economies. It also provides scenarios for integrating Television with other areas of knowledge such as smart environments and ubiquitous systems, allowing access to services until now not easily achievable.