The Oxford American Dictionary defines the word ‘innovative’ as introducing new ideas that are original and creative in thinking. Frankly, I think this is a very vague definition. This definition makes it sound like even bad ideas are innovative because they are original and new, such as a robotic vacuum or edible clothing. Just because these ideas were original and semi-creative, I don’t believe that made them necessarily innovative. (Maybe the robotic vacuum, but they don’t really work like I would want them to.) When I think of the word ‘innovative’ I think of a product or service that is so cool, I just can’t live without it. Something that will change my life. Something that everybody wants. This something is Tivo.
Tivo (THE original digital video recorder, in case you didn’t know), in my opinion, is the greatest invention ever to be invented. When Tivo first came out with DirecTV, no one had ever even heard of a DVR before. This makes it new. Before then, the only way to record something on television was with a VCR (and really, who even owns those anymore??). This makes it original. And if you don’t think that Tivo is creative, there is something wrong with you. Not only does Tivo diminish the need for those clunky, annoying videotapes, it completely changes the way to watch television. Sure, you can record whatever you want, whenever you want. But, you can also look up shows in advance to see when you should record them. For example, if I love the show CSI—which I do, who doesn’t?—I can use Tivo to search all the upcoming CSI shows in the next two weeks. Well, since CSI comes on every Thursday night on CBS, I can even go ahead and set a “season pass,” so that Tivo knows to record CSI every Thursday night at 8:00 without me having to remind it each week. Yes, Tivo is that smart.
Not only is Tivo original, new, creative, and any other synonym you can find for innovative, it is easy to use. As Erik Brynjolfsson and Michael Schrage point out in their article, “The Newer, Faster Face of Innovation,” companies are finding rapid ways to test out new products. Prices of experimentation are also decreasing, so many more “innovations” are being tested and put in to markets. The increase in inventions means products and services need to possess a competitive advantage over other products and services. Tivo has all of the great qualities I previously rattled off, plus it’s easy to use. I have to say, I never really mastered the art of recording TV shows on videotapes—partly because I was too young, and partly because it was a major pain. Anyone can use and master the art of Tivo, even my grandparents (which trust me, is saying a lot). All the remote buttons are very self-explanatory, and Tivo even has a help page!
With all of these new forms of digital video recorders coming out in to the market, Tivo needs to distinguish itself from the pack. At my apartment in Austin, I actually have AT&T Uverse with DVR. I have to say, I much rather prefer Tivo. Uverse only lets you see a shows a couple days before they are on live, so if I am going out of town for the weekend, and there is something I want to record while I’m gone, there is a good possibility that I will be screwed because Uverse can’t see that far into the future. Tivo can see two weeks in to the television future. The only problem with Tivo, compared to Uverse, is that is significantly more expensive. This is the price Tivo pays for coming out first. With innovations becoming cheaper and cheaper to produce, they are also becoming cheaper to purchase. Basically, all of these new DVR manufacturers, such as AT&T, Verizon, and DISH, are reaping the benefits of the “improving economics of digital technologies.” They don’t need to cost as much to consumers because they don’t cost as much to make. They didn’t need to simulate test markets, because Tivo was already a huge success.
As it is so glaringly obvious, I love Tivo. I think it is the greatest invention ever made (besides that whole electricity thing….and maybe cars, too). It makes TV watching a completely new experience. Imagine this: you’re lying on the couch watching the new episode of Survivor. Jeff Probst (love him) is about to read the votes off to see which cast member is being booted off the island. He’s reading the votes aloud. You’re on the edge of your seat. Then, your mom calls. You have two options: answer, and watch the replay on YouTube, or ignore the phone call, and hear incessant whining from your mom about how you never answer the phone, blah, blah, blah. Tivo gives you a third option: pause live TV. I mean seriously, can you think of anything more creative and innovative than pausing live TV? That has never been done before. Tivo is a great, innovative product in the marketplace right now, but is facing some competition from its newer, cheaper competitors. I’m eager to see how Tivo handles itself in the future, and to see which DVR will prevail in the end. (GO TIVO!)
