Virtual Home Library Let every Chinese family having their own libraries at home

摘要

Virtual Home Library (VHL) is an integrated IT system that utilizes virtual reality technology and an IPTV set-top box (STB) to virtually construct a 'library' and the relevant reading environment on televisions in people's home. Unlike the online e-book reading applications, Virtual Home Library system can be applied on televisions – the world's most convenient and most efficient communication tool. Providing extended digital library services, it will be a perfect group reading utility for family readers. The system has been investigated by a joint research team of the National Library of China and the Communication University of China, collaborating with a Chinese IPTV equipment manufacturer. This paper presents some preliminary investigations of the VHL system performed by the research team.