CognitiveNetworks
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'Smarter' TVs know what you're watching, react accordingly
TV manufacturers have labeled every one of this generation's internet-connected TV platforms "smart", but they don't always live up to the name. One reason is that the internet features can't interact with what you're watching, and are just simple add-ons. Cognitive Networks thinks it can fix that with tech that sees what you're watching, and pulls up related "interactive overlays" that fit. We've seen similar approaches before from companies like Yahoo, but while older tech did its snooping via closed captions, this one works by video fingerprinting the broadcast and identifying what's playing.
LG partners with Cognitive Networks to make Smart TVs smarter and more interactive
There's a problem with Smart TVs -- they really aren't all that smart. While having WiFi-equipped sets that can run apps and stream content from the web might make them seem smart, TV's don't actually know what content is onscreen when they're showing, you know, regular broadcast television. (Which is still what those TVs are most used for.) Cognitive Networks, however, has figured out how to make those televisions aware of what's happening onscreen, and LG is the first manufacturer to leverage the technology with its LivePlus service. LivePlus was first revealed at the launch of Showtime's Sho Sync app last week, but the Cognitive Networks' technology powering LG's platform can do so much more than just display character backgrounds, trivia and other info. To fully appreciate the breadth of possibilities the tech provides, however, it's important to know how it actually works.
