Personal Video Recorders

[AlisonP]

What is a PVR and when can I get hold of it?

[Fred]

Personal Video Recorders (PVR) have just hit the shops in the UK and those within the television industry predict it will change it forever. The machine, allows the viewer to record their favourite programmes, just as a VCR does, selecting them up to 2 weeks in advance. However the PVR machine records the programmes onto a hard disc drive with a large storage capacity. Based on the viewers selection it then learns his or her preferences by using an intelligent electronic programme guide and then makes suggestions as to what the person may wish to watch in future. The machine also allows viewers to rate recorded programmes and this information is added to the viewers profile from which it suggests programmes to watch in the future. The machine even records something automatically if it's confidant that the viewer will like it.