Sensors, Smart Content, and the Future of News
Nick Bilton from The New York Times R&D Labs was at ETech today, talking about how NYT is preparing for the future of news delivery. His presentation explored how "sensors in every part of our lives [are] helping us aggregate smart content that is relevant to the device we are using". Bilton said that New York Times is building out more real-time analytics, device detection and granular user interaction, in order to deliver this "smart content" to each user and device. They are focused on the "3 screen" experience: web, mobile, and living room. Bilton said that NYT is also exploring "Newspaper 2.0" and next generation e-ink devices (such as flexible displays).
Changes for mobile that NYT is looking at include optimizing for the increasing popularity of touch-screen devices (fueled by the iPhone) and adjusting content on mobile devices based on what the reader clicks on - e.g. if they click for sports news then they know the user is interested in that type of content.
Regarding sensors, these devices can be editors according to Bilton. For example if your phone has GPS, then your location can influence what content you see. Or if you're in your car, your phone could sense that and so NYT could deliver the news to you in audio. It can also change the way NYT does reporting - for example sensors that pick up noise activity could alert reporters to noise problems in NYC (a common problem in that city).
Bilton said that NYT has also been experimenting with semacodes, bar codes in the newspaper - although he noted that it has issues, such as it not being understandable for many mainstream people. There are also e-ink and other interactive concepts being tested (example below).
CustomTimes interactive newspaper box, photo from NickBilton.com
Bilton then showed how if NYT was being 'consumed' in the living room, they can introduce much more video and use sensor metadata to add to the experience (for example showing content based on location). He also asked the question: why doesn't my couch have an API? If NYT knew more about the people in the room, how close they are to the TV, etc, then NYT could customize the user interface and content even further.
He wrapped up by addressing the so-called death of the newspaper. Bilton argued that "paper is just a device". He noted that the next generation will be used to accessing content immediately - there will be flexible displays, full immersive video and graphical experiences, more user-generated content. All of these things are just ways of storytelling, he said.
Based on this fascinating presentation, we can be sure that newspapers - at least ones with enough money to do this type of research - are far from dead if they evolve with and adapt quickly to technology. NYT is certainly one of the leaders in using technology in news reporting, so it appears to be well positioned.
Disclosure: RWW has a syndication relationship with NYT.
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"paper is just another device" - I like that!
Posted by: Paul Roberts
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March 10, 2009 5:12 PM
Oh dear... Still going on about the 'sensors' and trying to plug shifd... this is the same stuff from last year and possibly the year before. I applaud his other efforts (Ignite) but this seems more like expensive PR than R&D
I don't care if the NYT implants an e-ink display on my cornea, I'm just not going to care about stuff I read two days ago on Digg. Developing new devices to deliver the same old news isn't the solution.
In order to compete with all the free news on the internet - which by the way, is already available on my "3 screens" - newspapers need to focus on the "news" (i.e. content) and worry less about the "paper" (i.e. delivery mechanism).
Is your newspaper running out of money? I've got two words for you:
Killer content.
People will pay for unique, nuanced, meaningful content. If I had a room full of reporters, I'd be sending them out looking for stories that no one else on the planet knows about. The most obvious place to start is to go hyper-local and report - in depth - on what is going on in the community that the newspaper serves.
Gawd I hope someone is listening. I'm from a newspaper family and do not want to see the extinction of such a wonderful and storied tradition. There is a place for citizen reporters and there is a place for seasoned journalists. Hopefully the newspaper brass will have the sack to let the latter focus on what they do best, instead of laying them off to fund e-ink research.
That is funny. And if so, it was my favorite "device" to play with when I was a baby.
Posted by: Melanie Reed
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March 10, 2009 9:06 PM
There is something about the feel of cotton bond or vellum or the questionable content of college-rule that excites! :)
Posted by: Melanie Reed
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March 10, 2009 9:10 PM
"paper is just another device" - well when the world has passed you by and you have to catch up or die, you have to change your attitude. I at least give them credit for that.
I'm with Jonathan. This is just more "gee whiz" hype, when what people like us are looking for is the best possible info that no one else is delivering. How to do that? The NYT has some of the smartest, most connected people in the country reading it every day. Why not figure out how to harness their knowledge and insight? Now that would be cool.
That is funny. And if so, it was my favorite "device" to play with when I was a baby.
That is funny. And if so, it was my favorite "device" to play with when I was a baby.