Videotex systems and services

A consumer-oriented family of innovative information distribution services, generally termed VIDEOTEX, being offered to the European and Japanese public is discussed. Normally using a modified home TV receiver as the display terminal, services provide user access to broad varieties of computerized data banks. Distribution to the user is typically via broadcast TV (one way services) or the switched telephone network (two way, interactive services). Also, there exists hybrid services in which the requested service may be transmitted over a different medium from the received information. Representative services and distribution system architectures, potential impact on the telephone network, the need for and status of standards, and economic considerations for user and suppliers are also discussed.