Currently when we watch tv its a passive experience, with the introduction of Hard disk PVR systems you can record shows by going through a TV schedule menu and you can set the PVR to record all shows you like automatically. Later you can watch shows at your own leisure.
Apple TV is trying to converge the Web and TV into a unique experience, you can watch youtube videos, listen to podcasts, radio stations and download TV shows and Films all whilst in your living room. Microsoft Media centre also allows a similar experience but via a PC or Xbox and purpose built Media centre devices. Another product is VuNow which again gives you WebTV experience for your living room.
Now if we add Social Media in to the mix and a TV revolution could be in the making, just imagine on the TV we can all communicate with our facebook friends, share each others photos, videos and live streaming from sites like ustream, twitter, as well as watch Hulu(only available in US) and watch regular TV programming with the ability to PVR. A product such as Boxee which is built ontop of Apple TV exists, is attempting to do this but no single product has come into the market place which unifies this whole experience and appeals to the masses.
With all this new technology coming into play all at the same time, there is tendency for information overload, and alot of configuring and setting up can deter many, what is needed to create a very simple User Interface, which has the power of all these new online tools without overwhelming the user. One example would be a WebTV Hardware Device based on Google Android as found on HTC Hero phone, and the remote control will be replaced, by an iPhone/Blackberry/Android Phone App which controls how you interect with the TV using Wifi.
Lets watch this space its early days.