iVoiceNetwork announced the completion of its alpha development phase.  This is an interesting new platform for interactive story construction in a social media way.

The idea is to redefine traditional broadcast entertainment by taking the concepts behind social media and making the content more compelling and entertaining.

According to the company, the system is based on a model called Multi-Character, Non-Linear Scenario Driven Narrative.  The platform is “genre, content and language agnostic, enabling massive scale and character-story connectivity.”

According to Guy Morris, company founder and CEO: “iVoiceNetwork has developed the first platform that fully captures the interactive nature of the Internet, allowing fans to become part of the show by creating unique user characters, connecting through role-based social groups and directing and starring in their own stories.”

They are looking for content partners with studios and production companies for a late 2010 launch.  You can check out a slideshow on the iVoiceNetwork site to learn more about how the concept works.

Imagine how inconvenient it would be if you had to flip a switch to watch a TV program in HD, or color.  That’s a requirement of some of the first generation 3D sets.  To get around that, 3D outfit Sensio is bringing plug-and-play to home 3D.  The Montreal-based firm has partnered with THX Ltd. to use the THX Media Director to facilitate 3D auto-detection in its consumer products.  Though not as well branded in the States as some other 3D companies, Sensio has carved a niche for itself in that its codec is output agnostic.

Once formatted, Sensio 3D content can be streamed, broadcast or sent over cable or satellite and burned to DVD.  On the receiving end, the signal can be output to any format, from standard flatscreen to active shutter 1080p HD 3D (and every 3D format in between).  In fact, Sensio has cast such a broad net in the patent department that there are murmurs here at CES of an impending tussle between the 10-year-old company and another well-known firm over, ummm…let’s just say “boundary” issues.

All that plus a swelling interest in cost-effective real-time 2D-to-3D conversion of TV content – which Sensio is also capable of thanks to a 2006 licensing deal with JVC – could prove a game-changer for the little Canadian company that already numbers Disney, ESPN and Universal among its clients.  On the hardware side, Sensio also announced here at CES that it has landed new customers in ViewSonic and Vizio, which will incorporate Sensio 3D into its HD line of TVs, including the 72” True LED XVT Pro 720SV, shipping in August.