With support from Intel, several PC manufacturers are already shipping systems pre-loaded with hardware and software that allow consumers to receive Intercast programming. Also, add-in boards that offer this capability as an upgrade for existing Pentium processor-based PCs can be purchased today in computer stores throughout the United States. Additional add-in board makers have announced plans to offer retail upgrades. These boards plug into the PC's PCI bus and include the Intel Intercast Viewer software. Updated information about these products can be posted at www.intercast.org.

The Intel Intercast Viewer software is a Microsoft Windows* 95-based application that requires a Pentium processor-based system equipped with the hardware and software specifications outlined below.

Minimum system requirements for the Intel Intercast Viewer software include the following:

• 90MHz (minimum) Pentium processor with PCI bus; 133MHz recommended
• 16MB RAM
• 15MB available hard disk space to install application; plus user-definable cache for storing broadcast web pages (default configuration, 25MB)
• 1MB VRAM (2MB recommended)
• PCI 2.0-compliance
• Standard CD-ROM audio port
• Video capture capability with VBI decoder and TV tuner
• Windows 95 operating system

Infrastructure requirements for using the Intel Intercast Viewer software are as follows:

• PC must be connected to a rooftop or set-top antenna, a cable TV connection, or a C-band satellite dish
• Consumer must be in an area where Intercast programming is available **
• Optional: A modem and an Internet connection are required to access the Internet or take advantage of hyperlinks contained in the broadcast pages that take users to related websites

**To receive Intercast programming, consumers must be in an area where the local cable operator or broadcast affiliate passes the Intercast content on the VBI as part of the TV video signal. Consumers should check with their cable operator and/or network affiliate to confirm the availability of Intercast programming.

The Intel Intercast Viewer software is launched just like any other application from the Windows 95 desktop. A scaleable application, the Viewer software can be run in TV only mode, in Browser only mode, or in TV plus Browser mode.

The Viewer application's user interface (Figure 5) divides the screen window into three panes.

At the top left is the TV viewing area, which can be resized when the user is in TV only mode. Along the left side of the TV viewing area is a set of buttons used to control various TV functions.

The control buttons, which are activated using the mouse, affect the following functions:

• Channel selection. The two top buttons allow the user to change the channel; one button moves the channel selector forward, and the other moves it back. The current channel selection is displayed between the two buttons.
• Mute. The mute control button allows the user to turn the sound off instantly.
• Volume. The volume control button allows the user to adjust the volume level up and down.
• Snapshot. When activated, the snapshot button takes an instant picture of the current image displayed in the TV window and automatically stores the image in the Media Library (see Figure 5).
• Stock ticker. When the user is tuned to CNN, stock ticker information scrolls continuously on the title bar. When the stock ticker control button is activated, the user sees a table of all the stock ticker information that she/he decided to capture into this file, which can then be ported to any other application for further analysis. The application supports full NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ stock feeds (subject to at least 15 minutes of delay) provided by S&P Comstock, a unit of Standard and Poors.
• Closed-captioning. This control button operates as a toggle, allowing the user to turn closed-captioning on or off. In addition, the Viewer software allows the user to set an alert based on close-caption text/information.

The top right pane of the Viewer application window displays the Media Library. As each web page is broadcast, it is cached on the user's hard disk. The user can see its title displayed in the Media Library and its location on the hard drive displayed in the top right pane's "Location" area.

The size of the cache reserved for storing web pages can be modified by the user. However, the Viewer application defaults to 25MB. When the cache content reaches the size limit, new web pages overwrite older pages using a FIFO (First In, First Out) algorithm. In addition, a provider of Intercast content can tag an expiration time or date to a given page. If the user wishes to keep certain pages of interest in the cache (Media Library), those pages can be marked using a software command.

The Viewer application organizes the incoming information by channel and saves it in such a way that the user can easily peruse the stored web pages. Clicking entries in the Media Library's expandable list brings up the saved pages, Snapshots, and Bookmarks, which are organized using a file folder metaphor.

A row of iconized buttons controls Media Library functions:

• New. When this button lights up, the user clicks it to receive a new broadcast web page.
• Intercast. The Intercast banner, directly above the Media Library control buttons, indicates whenever a broadcaster, for example, CNN or NBC, transmits Intercast content.
• Back. The user clicks this button to return to a previously viewed web page.
• Forward. This button is used to return to the current web page after the user has recalled an earlier page. (This function is available only after using the Back function.)
• Reload. The reload button refreshes the web page that is displayed.
• Stop. This button allows the user to cancel a web page that is appearing on screen.
• Find. The find button makes it easy to locate a specific program, episode, or web page title stored in the Media Library's Broadcasters folder.
• Bookmark. The bookmark button enables the user to create a reusable shortcut to any web page desired.
• Print. When clicked, this button outputs the displayed web page to a printer.
• Help. The user presses the right mouse button to activate help.

The third pane across the lower half of the Intel Intercast Viewer window displays the broadcast web pages that are being received. Underlined text or graphical images on a page indicate a hot link to another page that has been previously sent and cached on the user's hard disk, or to a related page that may exist elsewhere on the Internet. Clicking these local or external hyperlinks takes the user directly to the appropriate page.

In addition to using the software interactively as described above, the consumer can use the Intel Intercast Viewer like a stand alone browser to access the World Wide Web. To do so, the user simply types the desired URL in the "Location" area, and the software will take the user to the website or page selected, independent of whatever TV programming is visible in the viewing window.