Everywhere we turn we see signs of how technology is changing the way media is consumed, and at its core, I think this is really about consumers’ desire to have more choice and more control of their media experience.
Kevin Conroy, Executive VP, AOL Products

Back in the 1970s when “Welcome Back, Kotter” first aired, the only way to see it was by tuning in to the right TV channel at the right time every week. Today, people are using technologies like TiVo, cable and satellite TV -- and even computers and portable devices -- to watch TV and other entertainment.

Genevieve Bell, an Anthropologist and People and Practices researcher for Intel, explains that the entertainment choices can be overwhelming. "I think one of the challenges for technology companies is how you help people navigate that just a little bit better," said Bell. She suggests companies ask the questions: How do you make that experience a little less aggravating and help people find what they want?

There’s a wave of new entertainment available on the Internet, and this year new technologies and services are giving us control to record our favorite shows, and enjoy them whenever and on whatever device is most convenient.

Kevin Conroy, Executive VP of Products at AOL adds, "The Internet has now really reached a point where we can deliver high quality experiences to consumers on demand and consumers are really beginning to discover this and so we’re seeing really explosive growth with respect to how the Internet is delivering a whole new way for consumers to have access to entertainment."

In 2006, more people will be using a remote control too -- bringing Internet entertainment to our TV screens right from our PCs. New digital entertainment systems with Intel’s Viiv (rhymes with five) technology blend the best of today’s media center computers and high quality digital consumer electronics. These aren’t like your parents’ PCs - they can turn on and off quickly like your TV. They even let you play high definition video in 7.1 surround-sound while transferring music and video to other devices using Intel’s dual core computer processor and chipset inside.

Conroy adds, "Everywhere we turn we see signs of how technology is changing the way media is consumed, and at its core, I think this is really about consumers’ desire to have more choice and more control of their media experience."

Wireless laptops are also becoming all-in-one entertainment devices for people on the move. They let you tap into services like TiVoToGo and share entertainment with your home PC.