Present and Future of Software Graphics Architectures for IDTV

This chapter aims to define a research agenda regarding the software graphics architecture for interactive digital television (iDTV). It is important to note that by iDTV we do not refer to the provision of a return path, but rather to the potential impact the user has over the television (both video stream and applications) content. We can differentiate three major topics to be included in the agenda: (1) to define a suitable declarative environment for television receivers, (2) to research television input (as multiple input devices) and output (multiple display devices) capabilities, and (3) to rethink the models of television distribution and post-distribution (e.g., peer-to-peer [P2P] networks and optical storage technologies). This chapter elaborates on these topics.