Don't Look for a TV in Television's Future

[Commentary] "I have seen the future of television, and it doesn't involve a television."

Bilton has followed this year's World Cup with Twitter and Facebook, checked in to games on Foursquare, joined chats on HotPotato and commented in real time with friends, family and strangers from here to Timbuktu, literally. He watched real time stats, graphics and professional commentary on iPhone apps, and read live blogging. He also watched the game everywhere but on standard cable television: on his iPhone at a park streaming through Mobi TV, in the corner of his computer screen at work from Univision and on ESPN through a computer hooked up to his standard TV at home. Just four years ago, during the previous World Cup, practically none of these options existed.

In 2014, during the next World Cup, the fully augmented experience of the South Africa games will likely seem as dated as 2006 does to us today. By then, products like Google TV, Boxee or Apple TV will likely replace the cable box in many living rooms with a Web-enabled viewing experience. New iterations or versions of Twitter and Facebook will exist.