A new update to the Sky Q box will bring in voice search and a closer integration with the Facebook app.
Subscribers will press and hold the voice button – located on the side of the Ruwido-developed touch remote – to make simple requests of the programme database.
For example ‘Zootropolis’, ‘Billions’ or the ‘Liverpool game’. Sky has also added some secret phrases – such as “Say hello to my little friend” and “I’ll have what she’s having.” – that will take viewers to individual movies.
Broader searches can also be made, for example, ‘live cricket on this weekend’ and ‘Tom Hanks’ movies rated five stars’.
Luke Bradley-Jones, Sky’s brand director of TV and content products, commented: “May the force be with you” with your new voice search. Just ask Sky Q to “show me the money” by pressing the side of the touch remote, making it even easier and faster to find, discover and watch the TV you love.”
The solution is built on TiVo’s knowledge graph engine, a dynamic knowledge base of entertainment metadata, capable of understanding trends and conversations. Updated continuously via data ingestion and news crawlers, the knowledge graph includes information produced and curated by hundreds of content editors, predictive search results, and behavioral indicators from social networks.
“With more and more content choices and a great range of entertainment available across TV, TiVo is helping partners like Sky provide the best user experience whilst driving content consumption,” said Matt Berry, senior vice president and general manager, advanced search and recommendations, TiVo. “We are pleased to extend our long-standing relationship with Sky. This implementation further reinforces the value of TiVo’s product portfolio in bringing the latest capabilities to pay-TV homes across Europe.”
Also included in the spring update is the My Q section that becomes the new personalised Sky Q homepage. Earlier this week the BBC’s James Purnell, director of radio and education called for BBC shows to be given prominence over Sky content within programme guides such as Sky Q.
Facebook videos are being added to the My Photos application. Customers can use the My Photos App on Sky Q to sign into their Facebook profile and see photos and videos that they’ve uploaded themselves.
