Euro2004 has kicked off in Portugal, and websites are the pushing the new technology that is available for its viewers.
Over on the Euro2004.com site they have made their site accessible to those with literacy difficulties. The browsealoud function has been added to the site, so that after a short free download a user can roll a mouse over text and hear it spoken to them.
It's just a shame that are charging for their audio and video content.
BBCi is offering additional services to digital TV viewers. Yes, satellite viewers have seen this before, but for those of us on cable its a welcome change - pressing the red button on the remote gives you the choice of listening to either the TV match commentary, analysis, radio5live commentary, or simply just the noise from the stadium. In addition there is a live 'highlights' package that replays the best parts of the match as it is taking place, a news feed, forum and 'live stats' throughout the game.
And it isn't just football - Wimbledon will be 'red button friendly' too.
On their website (renamed bbc.co.uk recently to avoid confusion with the digital TV services) they have the virtual replay machine. This neat bit of software lets you view certain moments from all of the Euro2004 matches played, and you can view from various camera angles, follow a particular player, slow down and freeze the action. So, if you thought that the ref was wrong to have given a penalty, check it out here and see!
Well done the bbc for trying out new ideas using the technology you have. Now, if I only had the option to delete over rated, celebrity seeking footballers from my screen it would be perfect!
