TiVo's watershed event :)
Every major technology has a watershed event that demonstrates its use to millions in a very specific way. When there was a coup in the Philippines, citizens mobilized using text messaging on cellphones. In the aftermath of September 11th, people flocked online to read independent accounts of the events and catch up with loved ones.
Check out a search at Google News for TiVo and Janet Jackson. Tivo may have had its watershed event this past weekend, when Janet Jackson's boob demonstrated how TiVo's quick rewind and replay works. I always thought a TiVo was a sportsfan's best friend (when I watch football or basketball, I probably use the 7-second quick rewind at least a dozen times per game), but given all these press mentions and a recent price drop taking the cheapest TiVo down to $150, I bet they sell a lot of TiVos in the next few weeks.
I personally thought the Starr report was the watershed for the internet, that was the first time something was in the press non-stop that you had to go to the internet for, and every news item mentioned that. I think for the internet it's a moving target really.
Posted by: a | February 04, 2004 at 08:44 AM
Ah true, the Starr report was the first thing that got everyone online in the office I worked in. I just couldn't remember it when I was writing this post.
Posted by: Matt Haughey | February 04, 2004 at 12:27 PM
That's a good observation. I never thought of it as a watershed event.
ReplayTV calls the 7-second skip-back "Instant Replay".
Posted by: Lucas | February 04, 2004 at 03:41 PM