Mobile Technology and Television - Entertainment - Television

In recent years, the advances in technology have been characterized by continually-smaller and more powerful devices and by the advent of technology that is not bound to a desk or even a single physical location. A good example is the cell phone which originally allowed for placing calls from any location and now allows users to enjoy several services integrated into the telephones. Among those services are the capability to interact with other pieces of technology.

Television technology has, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, been added to the list of technologies that are increasingly mobile. Some of the capabilities are simple conveniences while others represent the ability to keep the same television service on a structure that changes physical location frequently, such as a mobile home or office.

DVRdigital video recorderdevices have replaced VCR technology over the last few years. They record on hard drives, eliminating the need for tapes, and they can hold huge amounts of data in high definition format. These devices, at first, were notable for being remarkably easier to program than were most VCRs. Today, they can even be programmed when the user is in an entirely different location than the DVR.

Cellular phone technology, integrated with DVR technology, allows the user to communicate scheduling information to the DVR from any location where a call can be made. This, of course, allows the user to program the device to capture programs that the viewer may have intended to be home to view live or to add selections they may have forgotten about or which they may have learned about during their day. This sort of technology is rapidly advancing and new forms of remote interaction are likely to be seen in the near future.

Satellite dishes have become the dominant means by which viewers receive subscription television. The digital format and almost total broadcast coverage of the continent make it a very popular choice. These devices, more and more, are becoming mobile. Satellite dishes can be affixed to mobile homes, taken down while in transit and remounted when the destination is reached. This is particularly useful for individuals who live in different locations during different times of the year and even for business people who work out of a mobile office. This sort of flexibility would have been unheard of even 20 years ago, when satellite dishes took up the majority of an owner's yard.

Mobile technology will likely continue to be largely dependent upon satellite communications in most regards. As the world moves away from wires, the satellite model of broadcast allows most areas on the Earth to be reached and improving technology allows more services to be added on a constant basis. Satellite television owes much of its success to this aspect of the technology as it allows the service to penetrate into rural markets where hardwired services such as cable are limited or not available at all. From remote programming to portable subscription television, these services continue to expand their reach.

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