Tech
Interactive shop assistants launch on Telewest
Published Tuesday, Oct 16 2001, 16:47 BST | By Neil Wilkes
Telewest is expanding its iSeeTV interactive TV service to bring on-screen Iceland shopping assistants to Birmingham customers, it was announced today.
The partnership – between Telewest and frozen food retailers Iceland – is now being premiered across Birmingham with a view to extending the service nationally.
The on-screen ‘personal shopper’ will highlight available products, special offers and will answer queries and talk viewers through payment options.
The viewer can see the assistant on their TV screen at all times, though the guide cannot see the person sitting at home doing the shopping.
The pilot project runs into 2002, providing iSeeTV to around 50,000 Telewest Active Digital homes in the Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Solihull areas. The service already features NHS Direct inVision – a medical advice service from NHS Direct and Living Health. During the trial further services will be added. Customers will be able to book a holiday, get financial advice and do their high street Christmas shopping.
Telewest sales and marketing director, David Hobday said: “Together with iSeeTV and Iceland, we are bringing alive the benefits of broadband. Only with cable can you have personalised home shopping experiences and interact and talk with your television.???
“Active Digital customers in Birmingham are taking part in an exciting first for interactive TV. We are proud to be part of a team helping Birmingham to break new ground.???
Big Brother 2's Dean O'Loughlin is being drafted in to help showcase the new service.
“As I’m sure most people are aware, shopping was a fundamental activity in the Big Brother house, often fraught with tension deciding what to buy – and having to complete a task to determine our budget didn’t help either!" he said.
“I’m sure if we’d had access to this service it would have made life a lot easier – what better than shopping from the comfort of your armchair when you are confined to the Big Brother house for 12 weeks!
“On a serious note, the advantages this service can bring are many – especially to groups like the elderly where iSeeTV will enable them to shop comfortably without losing the human interaction a store assistant can provide.???
The partnership – between Telewest and frozen food retailers Iceland – is now being premiered across Birmingham with a view to extending the service nationally.
The on-screen ‘personal shopper’ will highlight available products, special offers and will answer queries and talk viewers through payment options.
The viewer can see the assistant on their TV screen at all times, though the guide cannot see the person sitting at home doing the shopping.
The pilot project runs into 2002, providing iSeeTV to around 50,000 Telewest Active Digital homes in the Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Solihull areas. The service already features NHS Direct inVision – a medical advice service from NHS Direct and Living Health. During the trial further services will be added. Customers will be able to book a holiday, get financial advice and do their high street Christmas shopping.
Telewest sales and marketing director, David Hobday said: “Together with iSeeTV and Iceland, we are bringing alive the benefits of broadband. Only with cable can you have personalised home shopping experiences and interact and talk with your television.???
“Active Digital customers in Birmingham are taking part in an exciting first for interactive TV. We are proud to be part of a team helping Birmingham to break new ground.???
Big Brother 2's Dean O'Loughlin is being drafted in to help showcase the new service.
“As I’m sure most people are aware, shopping was a fundamental activity in the Big Brother house, often fraught with tension deciding what to buy – and having to complete a task to determine our budget didn’t help either!" he said.
“I’m sure if we’d had access to this service it would have made life a lot easier – what better than shopping from the comfort of your armchair when you are confined to the Big Brother house for 12 weeks!
“On a serious note, the advantages this service can bring are many – especially to groups like the elderly where iSeeTV will enable them to shop comfortably without losing the human interaction a store assistant can provide.???
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