Today TCS has relaesed one product from their Kolkata R&D division. It is like a set top box for Internet connection which can be used with our television. It is a nice idea. It makes easier to use television instead of computer for browsing.

Snippet of the device from TCS internal:

TCS’ Home Infotainment Platform (HIP) has been launched successfully in India and Philippines. In India it was launched through Tata Teleservices Ltd. under the brand name ‘Dialog’ in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. In Philippines it is launched through Smart Communications under the brand name ‘SmartBro SurfTV’.

HIP, from TCS Innovation Labs – Kolkata, is a revolutionary device as it enables internet browsing without the aid of computers, on home TV sets. It looks like a simple set top box and has four USB ports.

HIP is a convergence device that can render Internet Content and multimedia (audio, video, pictures) on TV. It also supports collaboration applications like SMS and Video Chat on TV. The platform targets the majority of the population in developing countries that does not have a computer and is not able to use the Internet as an information source.  By using standard Internet connection through 2G/3G wireless and asymmetric digital subscriber lines, TCS Home Infotainment Platform provides consumers access to interactive services over the television at an easily affordable price of around 100 USD.

Studies show that the spread of internet can have a positive affect on a country’s economic efficiency, functioning of markets and economic development in general. However, internet penetration is very low in developing countries and hence these countries stand to benefit greatly from HIP. Since HIP uses TV as the primary display channel and a TV-like remote control as the primary Input device, it brings in a familiarity aspect in its use that can put a non-computer-savvy user at ease to use the device.

HIP is a platform which could also be used for a variety of developmental programs and new business models in education (distance education) healthcare (telemedicine), TV-Commerce and Banking.

Among HIP’s features are:

• Web browser application for Internet browsing, supports popular Internet apps like Search, Chat, Facebook, Twitter, Webmails etc.
• Dedicated YouTube Video Player
• Indian language support
• Facility to download movies, songs, photos and documents from Internet to USB Pen-drive
• Multi feature picture viewer to view pictures from USB Pen-drive
• Multi feature Audio and Video Player to play songs and movies from USB Pen-drive
• Document viewer to view Word, PDF and Excel files from USB Pen-drive
• Support form Collaboration Applications like SMS and Video Chat

HIP makes use of a range of innovations and TCS Innovation Labs Kolkata has filed for 12 patents around this product. HIP is another example of frugal innovation, for a range of services that traditionally could be availed only through a computer. It is also a good example of co-innovation as it brings together a partner and vendor eco-system of Texas Instruments (Chipset), Olive Communications (Hardware integration), Opera (Browser) and Adobe (Flash).