With the launch of devices such as the Unison set-top box, the Internet is moving away from being the exclusive preserve of the PC. However, the delivery of the Internet to the multitudes will not be driven through one device. It will involve many devices such as the PC, television, telephone and mobile phone, PDA and other devices perhaps still on the drawing board.
While the PC can deliver a more enriched Internet experience, it comes at a cost beyond the reach of many. In addition, potential buyers are put off investing in a PC because of its perceived complexity.
Most households already own a television, so the little black box on top is the equivalent of instant Internet. This is the good news. The bad news is problems such as poor graphic display and the slowness of the Internet over a 56K modem.
The next big step will be interactive TV. This service is available in the UK and will bring a whole new range of dedicated services to the television. Home shopping, banking and video-on-demand are some of the features promised with this new service.
Interactive TV scores over Unison's device and similar devices because it delivers a service built for the televison whereas the Unison device merely customises the television into a bastardised web browser. Interactive TV is not the same as the Internet on a televison. Some interactive tv service providers allow users access to the Internet through a gateway but most are keen to provide a "walled garden" environment where their subscribers remain captive.
Faster communications links to the home via cable and new digital communication service such as ADSL will accelerate the TV/Internet convergence and make it a more practical relationship.