Notes:
The whole system can basically be divided into three components.
First, we need cheap and easy-to-use reporting devices. Cell phones are well suited for this task. They are pervasive devices and have the needed data-capturing and communications abilities. A reporter program could easily be written in the Java language which allows one to take several pictures, to speak a comment and to categorise the report before sending it on-line
Then, it needs a comfortable form for the presentation of personal news broadcasts For example, listening to radio news is as simple as turning on one's radio receiver, tuning to one's favourite station and waiting for the next hourly broadcast.
Since the Internet is being adopted by the home entertainment industry in the form of Internet radio enabled hi-fi systems and soon as streaming video TV sets, Internet news can be seamlessly integrated into these devices. Your TV set and stereo will know your interests and deliver a personalised programme. You could use the remote control for an interactive experience: make instant ratings of the pieces you receive and the programme for yourself and others could be influenced.
And with the move to wireless broadband, it also becomes affordable to receive your personal news with your mobile handset.
The component which is not so obvious to resolve is the mechanism for the distribution and personalised selection of relevant items. On the next slides, I will take a closer look at this problem and propose a solution.