The Venice Project

The very first foray into The Venice Project is an eye-opener. A very well thought-out user interface takes over the full monitor screen and clicking from one channel to another brings up the new content amazingly fast.

I can see the merit of being able to chat with others who happen to be watching the same channel and I suppose this is the USP of the application, the 'social networking' component. The choice of plug-in widgets allows a considerable measure of customization according to personal preferences.

However coming from the perspective of a television guy I find it unhelpful to have the video blown up to fill my 1024 by 768 pixel screen. Surely the default setting should deliver at pixel-for-pixel size, preferably the 768x576 PAL resolution, in order for the picture to be as crisp as possible?

Possibly when there's The Venice Project machine interfacing with a Tivo Box or the promised Apple iTV nirvana will have been reached.

Again from the television perspective, I find the channel menu will need to be much clearer in terms of enticing the viewer than it is at the moment. Clicking on the Warner Channel I found myself seeing a fascinating mini-documentary about Hyphy. Not exactly what I expected, however. If channels are going to be identified only in text form, without thumbnails or animations, then only if the name has 'recognition value' will the call-to-action work. I happened to recognize Fifth Gear since I am involved in automotive-themed television. But for many this UK Car show will not be readily familiar.

Even if download-to-keep or burn is not a planned functionality I wonder how content owners are going to be persuaded to sign up. Yes, network shows are turning up on YouTube and other platforms, including their own websites. And, yes, 'old media' are increasingly reassured that this exposure is not cannibalizing their core TV audience, in some cases even improving viewing figures.

But when the content delivered by The Venice Project looks like real TV and is accessible worldwide, the existing structures of international television program distribution and licensing are going to be radically challenged.

It will, of course, be a great showcase for content originating outside the traditional media industry. And within the industry I could see B2B applications which might be similar to what SmartJog offers.

I shall continue surfing the canals of Venice and posting further thoughts as they occur to me.