SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA:
The Web's leading video site, You Tube, is trying to learn enough about its viewers to replaces their television remote control.
On Wednesday it showcased a format called "Leanback" that picks out high-defination clips most likely to command a person's attention and then serves up one video after another.
YouTube believes viewers will feel like they're watching television if they don't have to search for a new clip every few minutes, and envisions a day when people won't need therri remote controls because Leanback will do all the work.
"We want to remove the 'What next?' question for viewers," said Kaun Yong, Leanback's product manager.
Leanback wil be among the options available on the Internet TVs of Google - which owns YuTube - when the Sony-made sets go on slae in the US this year.
Because Leanback still requires a Web browser, YouTube expects people will initially use it on computers. But YouTube is exploring ways to make it easier to bring Leanback to television screens via web-connected devices, including video game consoles, Blu-ray players and specialty gadgets.
Leanback is part of YouTube's effort to get people to stick around longer - which would give it more opportunities to sell more advertising and increase its revenue.
Leanback will offer the best experience to YouTube users who log in to their personal accounts while watching video. Drawing upon that history, Leanback's formula will choose videos most likely to appeal to each individual viewers. The format also offers channels devoted to specific categories, such as sports, enterainment and education, stripped across the bottom of the screen. The arrow keys on a computer keyboard are needed to navigate thorough Leanback's different options.
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