Big Brother is watching...

[Bill] Gates' vision of television of the future was: "TV that will simply show what we want to see, when we want to see it. When we get home, the home computer will know who we are from our voice or our face. It will know what we want to watch, our favourite programmes, or what the kids shouldn't be allowed to see."

It may not be totally Orwellian but I do not like the fact that my home computer would know all that about me. That home computer could be connected to marketing databases to customize the advertising.. and give me more advertising.. in all sorts of different forms.

"Hi PK. This is your refridgerator. I wanted to tell you that you are out of cheese. Your regular brand is Kraft American Singles. Kroger has a coupon for a package of 16 slices this week. You may also want to look into expanding your horizons into other cheeses that will compliment pastas, sauces, and meats very well. Gorgonzola is wonderful on a steak."

Yahoo! News - DVDs will be obsolete in 10 years: Bill Gates