> BlogWith almost every household owning a television, it’s obvious that this is one piece of technology that we all know and love and have done for some time. Nowadays though there are the likes of mobile phones and computers which are high up on the list too; and thanks to their range of features and abilities it’s no wonder.
If we compare the likes of mobile phones, computers and TV’s there is something which, for so long, the humble household TV has not been able to offer – the internet. Well, that’s all changing with the introduction of Google TV coming to a screen near you soon!
Whilst it is not yet available in New Zealand (expected to be worldwide in 2011), Google TV will give you the freedom to use the internet on your very own television – and no, that won’t mean that you have to go out and buy the latest and greatest model of TV either. For older model TVs you will be able to buy a Google TV box, whilst many of the newer model TV’s will come with Google TV built in – much like other TV applications on the market today.
Google TV will be powered by Google Chrome and will allow you to do all of those things that you do on the internet – so not only your surf the channels you can surf the ‘net on your TV too. You will be able to sit in your lounge room, bedroom, kitchen or wherever your television is and post a Facebook update, Tweet, watch YouTube video’s, play games and the do pretty much anything you do now on the internet.
The Google TV box/televisions are expected to be released with a full wireless QWERTY keyboard remote control, to enable users to type in searches as they would normally and flick between their TV programs and web applications, saving those that they like on to their home screen.
This move potentially means that people could be online more often and therefore traffic statistics could well increase over the years to come. It’s also likely to mean a change in the way that websites are designed, developed and optimised.
From both a design and SEO perspective, there are many questions which have arisen, such as: Will developers need to create specific web pages to take into account things like resolutions and screen sizes for Google TV. Do Google TV users search the same Google index that searchers do presently?
I expect that until the first release has been completed in the USA (released Fall 2010) that many of these questions will not be answered any time soon. However, in terms of design Google have released some guidelines for optimising websites for Google TV.
Many web designers will likely develop websites using Flash methods due to the lack of font support for Google TV at present, which in itself could cause issues for the websites organic rankings in Google.
As we learn more we’ll keep you updated, but for now – bear in mind that your website audience could change and therefore so could your websites design and functionality.
New Plymouth
Phone (+64) 06 769 5640
Fax (+64) 06 769 5641
Email info@apexinternet.co.nz
Christchurch
Phone (+64) 03 374 6518
Fax (+64) 03 374 6519
Email chch@apexinternet.co.nz
