DigiNews – An European projectabout digital newspaper: DigiNews – An European project about digital newspaper Prepared by Alain Bouffioux Philips Digital Systems Laboratories - Leuven


Slide2: Progresses in e-paper technology was the motivating factor to initiate the DigiNews project Progresses in e-paper technology was the motivating factor to initiate the DigiNews project


The vision !: The vision ! From e-ink Website A lot of work has still to be completed in order to enable this vision (Caution: No unrealistic expectation !) Focus of Diginews: Analyse, architect and demonstrate a solution (IT infrastructure) enabling the deployment of the digital newspaper


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


DigiNews in short: DigiNews in short Project definition initiated by Philips Leuven on 20th Jan 2003 European ITEA (Eureka) project labelled in Nov. 2004 (ITEA projects: IT related Eureka projects) Project led by Philips Leuven Focus: Electronic Newspaper (from edition to consumption) 20 european partners Manpower: about 140 Man-year Duration: about 2,5 years (begin-2004 to mid-2006) Kick-Off : In Leuven on 10th & 11th Feb.2004


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


The Digital Newspaper System : The Digital Newspaper System


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (2): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (2) Published Complex publishing tools Time-critical environment Distributed Broadcast (e.g.DAB,DVB-T) / Unicast With / Without return channel Stored locally & consumed Lightweight, always-on, low-power, dedicated terminals Accessible to everybody The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (3): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (3) Terminal Accessible to everybody (as paper version) Plug-and-play, No configuration, Flexible terminal, Not an additional PDA Usage as similar as possible to the one of classic newspaper Extended user experience (e.g. interactivity) & new services The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (4): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (4) Limit the risc and the initial investment Format open & based on open standards (XML, MPEG-7, NewsML) Based on current infrastructure (fast deployment, reduced initial investment) (e.g. DAB, DVB-T, WiFi Hotspots…) Access and copy-controlled (DRM) (Asset protection, security of revenue stream) The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (5): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (5) Also additional services (digital age) Multiple update and fresh information (stock market, weather, traffic...) User profiling (filtering or navigation) Location-based services Return channel & database access Easy worldwide distribution via point-to-point (as for internet radios) Combined with TTS (Text-To-Speech) for car usage Touch & voice activation: usage in the car (No display needed) Complementarity with legacy radio (passive vs interactive) The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (6): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (6) Legacy newspaper: rigidity Electronic Newspaper: flexibility No link between advertisment & articles (Assembling in real-time at reading according to user profile). Subscription rate as a function of advertisement tolerancy Billing scheme (per issue, subscription...) Revenue/cost distribution between actors (publishers, advertisers, broadcasters, product manufacturers...) via micro-payment The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (7): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (7) For visually impaired people: Larger font size With Text-To-Speech synthesizer The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (8): What is an Electronic Newspaper ? (8) Low transport cost (existing infrastructure during low-activity period) Environmental friendly (no-ink, no paper, no physical transport) The system view The consumer view The investor view The progressive view The business view The social view The ecological view


Why an Electronic Newspaper ? (1/2): Why an Electronic Newspaper ? (1/2) Digital revolution: everything becomes digital Audio, Video, Photography... Next step: Newspaper ? Excellent candidate: based on current infrastructure, current technologies  INCREMENTAL (if replacement only) Current usage pattern compatible with legacy newspaper ( e-book: gift, long-lasting value) E-paper (flexible display), last (until now missing) enabling technology, is nearly ready to enter the market.


Why an Electronic Newspaper ? (2/2): Why an Electronic Newspaper ? (2/2) Other advantages Faster distribution (deadline of publishers moved) Just-in-time delivery (Reliability) Cheaper for the consumer ? Additional services for the consumer Social role Environmental friendly Digital Newspaper vs Digital camera No big change (same usage mode for legacy and new device) More functionalities justify the larger initial investment Cheaper at long term or for intensive use ? Success digital camera  Success digital newspaper ???


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


Project focus - objectives: Project focus - objectives Investigation of the various business models & proposal for successful introduction Definition for a basic electronic newspaper: replacement of current newspaper (keep it simple) Specify & demonstrate a complete end-to-end solution (using DAB/DVB-T/hotspot infrastructure) Exploration of possible augmented uses & validation/demonstration of some of them


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


Work Breakdown Structure: Work Breakdown Structure


Global planning: Global planning


WPs in short (1): WPs in short (1) WP2 - System analysis System requirements defined from the three point-of-views: User: usage scenarios for user & publisher Business: Business models (consumption & remuneration models) Technology: State-of-the-art: current distribution infrastructure, current technologies Requirements about: Delivery process & actor interface Content representation Security issues, billing & payment User interface, Interactivity, Personalization, Location awareness…


WPs in short (2): WPs in short (2) WP3 – Architecture for basic services (i.e. provided on a broadcasting channel, simply replacing the classical newspaper) e.g. DAB or DVB-T based end-to-end architecture WP4 – Architecture for extended services (i.e. Additional services made possible by the digital character of the information: TTS for visually for visually-impared & car usage, user- and geo- based services...) WP5 – Demonstrators e.g. Broadcast-based end-to-end demonstrator + validation of some selected extended services


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


Consortium overview: Consortium overview Countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Sweden, Spain, UK SME, Industries, Research labs, Universities Publishers, infrastructure providers, consumer appliances... 3 end-to-end demo’s: Sweden, Belgium, Spain


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


The Flemish sub-consortium: The Flemish sub-consortium Concentra media – Publisher side & expertise in user & advertiser needs Philips Leuven – Terminal & experience in consumer electronics dZine – Terminal, distribution & experience in professional news application KULeuven – Theoretical support, middleware, Distribution channel – Solution currently investigated


Flemish demonstrator in the European context (1): Flemish demonstrator in the European context (1)


Flemish demonstrator in the European context (2): Flemish demonstrator in the European context (2) Case: distribution via IP


Agenda: Agenda What is DigiNews Electronic newspapers – What? Why? Project focus - Objectives Project approach Consortium overview Flemish contribution Conclusions


Some conclusions !: Some conclusions ! Due to its usage model the e-newspaper seems an excellent candidate for next step of the digital revolution A multi-national approach is ideal to get a wide product acceptance Flanders contribute significantly to this project by the realisation of a full end-to-end demonstration. Beyond promising business opportunities, DigiNews may also have a social role (visually-impaired, economy of natural resources (paper, energy...)...


Questions ?: Questions ? ?


Slide34: Thank you for your attention !