Real People: Tea With The Andersen's

by Taran March
Winter 1997

The e-mail is flitting around the world as, for an hour or so, forty people attend one of Eric and Denise Andresen's popular "tea parties"-- a simultaneous e-mail jamboree that provides a network infrastructure for WebTV newcomers as well as new friends for the Andresens.

Tea parties are just one of many innovations in the TV habits of this Iowa couple, who converted from passive to smart TV a year ago and never looked back.

The Andresens maintain a Web page (http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/eandrese) offering information about interactive TV. The site has received well over a hundred thousand hits in just under a year, many from people interested in improving their television viewing but uncertain where to begin. Dropping in on the Andresen's page, readers can learn about the internet-friendly WebTV Network, make use of related search engines, and consult the frequently-asked-questions menu. They can read Eric's "Tech Talk" column, access chat rooms, and learn how to build their own Web page. In the true spirit of interactive TV, the Andresens offer their Web page as a way of sharing knowledge about the value of WebTV.

Though their youngest son continues to watch selected studio television programs, the rest of the family has moved almost exclusively to WebTV.

"It's a way for us as a family to watch television," says Denise. "For instance, we'll access taped karaoke files and really have fun with them. It gives us more avenues for active participation and even keeps the teenagers at home."

Denise helped her oldest daughter research graduate schools via WebTV, and she's cut down on long-distance phone calls to her scattered brood, thanks to WebTV's e-mail function. Though pioneer users of the technology, the Andresens hooked-up their box only last November.

"There wasn't much available on WebTV when we bought the system," recalls Eric. "We were one of their first subscribers. But it keeps changing all the time, adding new services. That's why we decided to start a Web page for other new users." A week after they installed the `Net-top box they hung out their own shingle on the net. They now receive e-mail from as far away as Malaysia.

Denise fondly cites another new friend and confirmed interactive TV advocate, an 82-year-old woman from Mountain View, Ca. "With WebTV we're seeing a human side to the Internet," says Denise.

"I'm basically a forty-year-old housewife who stumbled on a brand-new technology," Denise continues. "There's so much more to this than regular TV. Now I can listen to news and weather without having to wait for CNN --I can just go directly to CNN. I viewed the pictures taken by the Mars satellite immediately as they became available. That's pretty exciting."

A retired librarian, Denise finds the opportunities for research and information retrieval particularly rewarding. As for Eric, his position as a wide-area network administrator gives him much insider knowledge that he freely shares with others.

Eric likes WebTV's speedy service; he says their PC is a lot slower. "The computer 'feel' is absent with this system," he says. The Andresen's use a Philips Magnavox set-top box, and both Eric and Denise liked the reasonable purchase price for so much flexibility They are so sold on the service, they've even set up their PC to receive WebTV, "which is going about it a little backwards," Eric laughs. But Eric and Denise believe interactive TV is more than just an information source.

"It's a major tool to bring people together," maintains Denise. "You can have your cake and eat it too, since this offers education as well as entertainment. It's great to be in touch with friends from all over. I can drop them a quick line, ask 'how ya doin' and what are you having for dinner?" Or in the Andresens' case, for tea.

Taran March is a freelance writer and editor interested in interactive media and technology.