Web TV

If you have a digital TV there is probably a set-top box attached to your television. This is a box that reads the digital signal and puts it on to your television screen. It is this box which is becoming increasingly more important as digital TV develops. Aside from just decoding the digital TV signal, this box does a lot more. Using your remote control, you can look at a programme guide on the television and see what programmes are coming up. You can also set reminders for your favourite programme or film.

If you have a Sky Digital set top box, you may be familiar with the “red button”. Often TV programmes will encourage you to “press the red button now!”. When you press the red button on your remote control, you can interact with the television programme – finding out more information, watching alternative camera angles or even voting. In the future, this little box will do more – such as allowing you to record up to 60 hours of programmes, surf the Internet or even make video calls to friends and family. digital TV is rapidly becoming an exciting window on the world.

With the amount of programme channels available – especially on satellite – there is a greater chance of your child coming across violent or obscene programme content. Most digital set-top boxes offer you a function whereby you can “lock” certain inappropriate channels. However, as it is possible that your child will know how to unlock these channels, it is wise to talk with your child about these issues and set boundaries as to what he/she can and can not watch. Think it out before you agree to very young children having a digital TV+DVD player in their own bedrooms. Even with locked out channels you create an environment where they can get access to material you may not feel is suitable. Watching the TV, particularly with children under 10, in a family environment, at least means you can put a context on what they see.