Description:
What do you get when you cross the interactive abilities of a computer with the information delivery power of a television? No one is quite sure, but Annesa Hartman attempts to define the field, the process, and the experience of not just viewing but Producing Interactive Television.Hartman presents a history of the development of television, the rise of the computer as entertainment, and the events taking place that are merging the two. Then she covers the technical process of developing an ITV project--the necessary ingredients, the tools used, the process involved, and the various delivery and execution methods. Tools and methods change over time, but the information in the last section of the book is timeless and valuable. It is a showcase of real-world ITV projects, including images and interviews with the creators and producers of such projects as SpinTV, Spiderdance, the AFI Enhanced TV Workshop, and Showtime Networks. Not many people are producing ITV projects, but rest assured that everyone is watching the field. There are certainly some major issues yet to be resolved on both sides of the screen. The formats for an interactive production are far from standard, and the definition itself is still up for grabs. Producing Interactive Television validates and defines this new medium, shedding light on a growing innovation. This book should be read by anyone who sees that the future of entertainment and education lies in the elusive offspring of the television and the computer. --Mike Caputo
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