Technology Tip Number 129
Is it a TV or a Computer?

There are actually several ways you could watch your favorite TV shows on your computer screen. This is a quick review of three ways you could turn your computer (laptop or desktop) into a TV set.

Number 1: Just Connect an Antenna to your Computer

Not exactly any antenna, an HDTV Tuner Device that plugs into a free USB port would be needed, along with some software of course. But with such a set-up, and an HD antenna you could be watching the free, over-the-air digital stations that are available in your area on your computer screen. Many of the USB Tuner Devices also come with the ability to record your favorite TV shows. Here is a Google Shopping search of the many such devices that are available out there.

Number 2: Just watch it on YouTube

Did you know that YouTube was started by three friends who just wanted to create an easy way to share videos on the internet? You can watch their story here. Today you can find just about any video you can think of on YouTube somewhere. From the theme song to Gilligans Island, to a flash mob performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy), there's something there for everyone. Teachers are discovering the amazing benefits of having such a huge video library at their fingertips also. One hedge fund manager turned internet tutor, Salman Khan, turned his efforts to help his neice with some math homework into a new way for teaching called KhanAcademy.org . So if there is some TV show you'd like to watch, be it educational or not, chances are you might just be able to find it on YouTube somewhere.

Number 3: Try an Internet Subscription Service

Netflix has been the fastest growing online subscription video service and for as little as $8 a month you can be streaming thousands of videos, TV shows an movies to your computer - as long as you have an internet connection. Hulu is another service to check out and many of the shows on their website can be watched for free. Amazon Prime is another subscription service designed to get you streaming video on your computer and other devices.

In addition, here are some more TV broadcasts that are available through the internet:

BBC World News Video
Video from the British Broadcasting Corporation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/video_and_audio/default.stm

CBS News Video
Current events by category at the Columbia Broadcasting Service
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/

CNN Pipeline
Live stream from the 24 hour Cable News Network
http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream1

Business Week Online
Video current events in business
http://www.businessweek.com/mediacenter/video/index.html

MSNBC News
Wide variety of online video
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8004316/

CBC Television Newscast
Online video from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
http://www.cbc.ca/video/

Discovery.com
Wide variety of interesting online videos
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/

PRACTICE ACTIVITY:  Try using one of the video resources above today.

TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  You can  find out more about online video resources try searching the internet for:

Online video
Streaming video
Online TV

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