OpenCable Applications Platform (OCAP) Development Competition Ignites Java Development Community

Strategic Insights -

The OpenCable Applications Platform (OCAP) development competition, sponsored by major US cable operators, has kicked off at the JavaOne Conference in San Francisco. The contest aims to raise awareness of OCAP and encourage Java developers to participate in the interactive television market. With a grand prize of a DLP HDTV, developers are challenged to create innovative OCAP applications that serve and entertain cable TV viewers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The contest focuses on OCAP, a Java-based software platform for digital television, which enables portable and interoperable applications across all cable networks.
  • The competition consists of four categories: Stand-alone (virtual channel), Advertising, Live events, and Innovation, with winners receiving a $1,000 cash award and the overall winner taking home a DLP HDTV.
  • Developers can use the Vidiom Systems' VISION Workbench OCAP Simulator and their preferred Java IDE to create applications, with a 90-day deadline and entries closing on October 1st.
  • The competition encourages developers to think beyond existing iTV examples in terms of functionality, presentation, and concepts.
  • Contestants will be judged on creativity, programming skills, and innovation, with a winner chosen for each category and an overall winner selected.
  • The OpenCable Applications Platform (OCAP) is a Java-based software platform for digital television, enabling portable and interoperable applications across all cable networks.

Statistics:

  • The contest will run for 90 days, with entries closing on October 1st.
  • There are four competition categories: Stand-alone (virtual channel), Advertising, Live events, and Innovation.
  • The grand prize is a DLP HDTV.
  • Developers have a 90-day deadline to create their applications.

Sources:

  • Advance/Newhouse Communications
  • Cablevision
  • Comcast
  • Cox
  • G4techTV
  • Sun Microsystems
  • Time Warner Cable
  • Vidiom Systems
  • American Film Institute (AFI)
  • CableLabs
  • Cablevision Systems Corporation
  • Comcast Corporation
  • Discovery Communications, Inc.
  • G4techTV
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc.
  • Time Warner Cable
  • Vidiom Systems Corporation
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