3. Outlook

The miniaturization of components and the increasing speed of processors mean that a new generation of digital decoders can be envisaged. For example, there are plans to integrate hard disks that will store the bitstream for a few minutes (the time it takes to answer the phone) and then pick up where the film left off. We'll be able to "pause" a TV program. Digital television enables greater interactivity. Let's make no mistake: this is broadcast interactivity! We can't imagine ever finding transmitters (35 W) to a satellite for a return channel. On the other hand, cable is a medium that lends itself well to this kind of manipulation. The cable return path and the presence of servers at the operator's premises make it possible to create a local network (on the scale of a city). With satellite, if you want a return path, you have to use a telephone line. In this way, we can envisage Internet...