The Digital Media Project

Source

Craig Schultz

Title

TRU #06 to device independence

No.

040119schultz03

Name:

Craig Schultz

Affiliation/additional information:

Multimedia Architectures

Date submitted:

2004/01/19

#

Criteria

Description

1.

Name of TRU

The ability to choose playback device.

2.

Summary description of TRU

The User may choose among different devices for accessing Digital media and does not need a different device for Digital media of different types or different devices for Digital media of the same type but from different sources.

3.

Use records of TRU

When valued content can be accessed by hardware devices, Users have a multitude of choices for their use.  Any device from any manufacturer for a given type of content would work and would work right out of the store.

Lately, content has been packaged in DRM only supported on PCs and in many cases a given title is locked to a single given PC.  This at the same time that one can play one’s DVD’s on any DVD player and use Secure Digital and Memory Stick memory cards on any devices supporting those standards.

4.

Nature of TRU

Hardware manufacturers rely on, create and use standards, either international or industry.  The current crop of PC based distribution schemes are proprietary and only open to the single developer that created the scheme.

5.

Benefits of TRU

Users become frustrated and confused when Digital media they paid for doesn’t work at all or only works on one device or a very limited set of devices.

Users are more willing to accept new types of Digital media and services when they can use the same familiar devices they have been using for accessing content for years.

There is more competition to provide the User with a device so quality and features will increase and purchasing prices will come down.

6.

Possible digital support

Standards

7.

Requirements

Standards

8.

References