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© 1997-2006
Gareth Knight
All Rights reserved

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The product description of the Amiga ED, previously found on the Viscorp web site.

The ED (Electronic Device)

Ed Box

The ED is a sophisticated cable set-top appliance. The device is, essentially, a highly cost-optimized computer that includes graphical, simple-to-use interfaces which can be remotely configured from a host operating system. It is designed to be placed on top of or next to a television set and connect directly to a standard telephone jack either through a conventional telephone wire or through wireless Radio Frequency (RF) connectivity. It uses a consumer's standard TV set as a monitor and presents text and graphics using specially configured fonts so that it is readable at normal viewing distances (i.e., text and graphics are presented in proportional fonts up to 60 columns): each device can also overlay graphics and text on the television picture or bring up a solid background to facilitate information viewing. It comes equipped with a modem, video and audio circuitry,
and a controller.

The ED permits consumers to perform a variety of functions and access a number of on-line interactive services which VIScorp expects to make available in the future including fax capability, E-mail, videogames, home shopping and educational programs. The majority of the interactive services that it will deliver are either not widely available for home TV or available only on high-powered multimedia PCs with modems. VIScorp's Internet and set-top devices can be sold at less than the price of a PC - while providing entirely new functionalities (e.g., advanced telephone management services) not
available on a PC.

The ED appliance offers all the functions and features of the UITI, but includes a number of unique, value-added features which add to its potential appeal to average TV viewers. These include:

  • A built-in magnetic card stripe reader so that credit or debit cards may be swiped to confirm transactions. To enhance performance, the debit card may be filled with electronic funds drawn on the users bank.
  • A built-in interactive on-screen program guide with one week of TV programming mapped to the local area or cable operator; the device also provides for parental control that enables the screening-out of unwanted programming.
  • The ability to enable the viewer TV set to function as an executive-style speaker telephone with one-touch on-screen dialing
  • so that calls may be placed from the living room couch with a remote control. In locations where caller ID is available, the ED can scan the incoming call and check the number against a database. If it recognizes the number, the ED scrolls the name of the incoming caller across the TV picture and the viewer may answer the call and speak to the person with a press of a button on the remote control.

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