TV Isn't Broken, So Why Fix It? 839
PolygamousRanchKid sends this quote from a contentious article at CNN that questions the need for further development of TVs and the entire TV-viewing experience.
"The technology industry is absolutely bent on reinventing television. ... But nobody seems to be able to answer the big question: what exactly is so broken about TV anyway? The tech industry is filled with engineers and geeks. They naturally want to optimize the TV experience, to make it as efficient and elegant as possible, requiring the fewest number of steps to complete a particular task while offering the greatest number of amazing new features. But normal people don't think about TV that way. TV is passive. The last thing we want to do is work at it. ... As long as there's something on — anything — that is reasonably engaging, we're cool. Most of us are even OK spending a few minutes just shuffling through channels at random."
So, what do you think is broken about TV right now? Is there a point at which it'd be better for us to stand back and say "We've done what we can with this. Let's work on something else"?
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:4, Funny)
I use my TV to listen to Digital Radio. It's got better speakers than the radio I have in the kitchen.
Seriously. Between that, Panel shows (like QI and HIGNFY) and the odd Film it's all I use it for.
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:5, Funny)
> The Simpsons
You lost your credibility right there, unless you're talking reruns that predate the second Bush administration.
Simpson hipsters.
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:4, Funny)
Brief synopsis of some of your favorites:
The Office: Office workers are stupid idiots
The Simpsons: Nuclear operators are stupid idiots
Pan Am: Stewardesses are stupid idiots
How I Met Your Mother: Sex addicts are stupid idiots
Modern Family: Parents are stupid idiots
The Big Bang Theory: Geeks are stupid idiots
Chuck: Spies are stupid idiots
news shows: Reporters are gullible stupid idiots
Futurama: Aliens are stupid idiots.
Seems like there's a trend there somewhere
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:3, Funny)
TV?
Is that the thing that my computer and PS3 are hooked up to?
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:5, Funny)
Simpson hipsters.
Don't blame me, I voted for Kang.
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:5, Funny)
Watching History UK, I was very surprised to see Iceroad truckers. What happened to my beloved "Hitler Channel"? Back in the day it was all Hitler, all the time, except for some Ancient Egyptians. On some lucky nights we'd be treated to some odd ancient astronaut stuff. Thankfully History wasn't as bad with woo as Discovery Civilization. It seemed that Discovery in general blew half of the budget on night vision cameras, retards, and a bunch of con artists to drag them around dimly lit houses and give the retards the willies. I still recall a documentary in which Von Daniken's crazy ideas were introduced without any serious rebuttal. There was far too much if that "but perhaps we'll never know" mentality used when comparing fruit cake theories to reasonably argued and well evidenced ones.
Re:TV ain't broken? (Score:4, Funny)
"My cat's breath smells like cat food."