Samsung's New See'N'Search Technology Merges Google, Apple TV

The Internet is already one of the world's most important information and media delivery systems, but the role it plays into pushing entertainment programming into one's living room might become even more important on the future. And this is exactly why the Korean company Samsung has just unveiled its See'N'Search technology, which allows users to retreive Internet information and media-related content onto their TV screens without the need for a PC/keyboard and or special content programming.

"See'N'Search technology will revolutionize how consumers will see and use the Internet in the living room in the next few years" said Alan Messer, director of connected consumer technologies of Samsung's U.S. Research and Development Center. "By greatly minimizing the need to manually search for related content and special interactive content authoring, this technology enables consumers to directly watch or surf Internet content that is relevant to them."

Samsung's See'N'Search set-top box uses TV guide-like information, in addition to the closed caption metadata that is present for most programming, to scour existing Internet content (HTML coding, Web video, etc.) and make recommendations that would appeal to the user. To do this, the system monitors the contents of the program being watched, using lightweight natural language technologies to determine the topics that are being discussed.

When the user presses the "More Info" button, the See'N'Search UI appears on-screen with related information or media that the system found on the Internet. The consumer simply selects a piece of content from any particular topic, and See'N'Search takes them directly to that content (somehow similar to Google search, don't you think?). Furthermore, See'N'Search information can also be transmitted from the TV or set-top box to any connected devices in the living room, such as Wi-Fi enabled phones, tablets or laptops.

Unfortunately, there's no word yet on just how expensive the new See'N'Search set-top box will be, but if it comes at a reasonable price tag it might actually prove to be quite a huge success, given the enhanced level of functionality.

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