The product description of the Amiga ED, previously found on
the Viscorp web site.
The ED (Electronic Device)
Ed Box
The ED is a sophisticated cable set-top appliance. The device is,
essentially, a highly cost-optimized computer that includes
graphical, simple-to-use interfaces which can be remotely
configured from a host operating system. It is designed to be
placed on top of or next to a television set and connect directly
to a standard telephone jack either through a conventional
telephone wire or through wireless Radio Frequency (RF)
connectivity. It uses a consumer's standard TV set as a monitor and
presents text and graphics using specially configured fonts so that
it is readable at normal viewing distances (i.e., text and graphics
are presented in proportional fonts up to 60 columns): each device
can also overlay graphics and text on the television picture or
bring up a solid background to facilitate information viewing. It
comes equipped with a modem, video and audio circuitry,
and a controller.
The ED permits consumers to perform a variety of functions and
access a number of on-line interactive services which VIScorp
expects to make available in the future including fax capability,
E-mail, videogames, home shopping and educational programs. The
majority of the interactive services that it will deliver are
either not widely available for home TV or available only on
high-powered multimedia PCs with modems. VIScorp's Internet and
set-top devices can be sold at less than the price of a PC - while
providing entirely new functionalities (e.g., advanced telephone
management services) not
available on a PC.
The ED appliance offers all the functions and features of the
UITI, but includes a number of unique, value-added features which
add to its potential appeal to average TV viewers. These
include:
- A built-in magnetic card stripe reader so that credit or debit
cards may be swiped to confirm transactions. To enhance
performance, the debit card may be filled with electronic funds
drawn on the users bank.
- A built-in interactive on-screen program guide with one week of
TV programming mapped to the local area or cable operator; the
device also provides for parental control that enables the
screening-out of unwanted programming.
- The ability to enable the viewer TV set to function as an
executive-style speaker telephone with one-touch on-screen
dialing
- so that calls may be placed from the living room couch with a
remote control. In locations where caller ID is available, the ED
can scan the incoming call and check the number against a database.
If it recognizes the number, the ED scrolls the name of the
incoming caller across the TV picture and the viewer may answer the
call and speak to the person with a press of a button on the remote
control.
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