never.no to Highlight New "Synchronized Companion App Framework" for its Interactivity Suite at NAB

Norwegian interactive TV technology provider, never.no, contacted [itvt] Tuesday to let us know that it plans to highlight a new Synchronized Companion App framework--that syncs iPads and other tablets, PC's and smartphones to the action on the TV screen--for its flagship Interactivity Suite (IS) at the 2011 NAB Show in April.

According to the company, the new framework allows broadcasters to easily develop branded applications that push/pull information or media relevant to a real-time TV broadcast to a second screen, such as a tablet, smartphone or PC. It says that the feature works by monitoring frame-by-frame changes in broadcast programming or live production; and then uses those changes to trigger delivery of relevant content to the second screen. Support for most major broadcast protocols allows the Synchronized Companion App framework to serve as an active return channel to the broadcaster, the company claims, and as a result, tablets, smartphones and PC's become "perfect peripherals for enabling participation TV, interactive content and even remote control."

never.no says that its NAB presentation of the Synchronized Companion App framework will offer visitors "a full, 360-degree view of an interactive broadcast and companion app for an iPad workflow," and will include live demo's of "everything from interactive sports applications to user-driven music channels," which "will afford visitors a chance both to sample the user experience on iPads and TV and also sit in the producer's seat to control the interactive workflow in real time." It says that it will also showcase the new framework in Vizrt's booth, in conjunction with the latter's graphics engines, touch screens and augmented reality solutions.

never.no bills Interactivity Suite as a toolkit for creating the technical backbone of interactive broadcasts and digital marketing campaigns. According to the company, the technology allows viewers to influence broadcasts in real time and "interact with one another and the rest of the world"; and allows broadcasters to aggregate user-generated content from social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook into their programming and--with the launch of the new framework--to build synchronized companion apps.