(ARA) - Shortly after good old Alex Bell first transmitted the human voice, people realized the entertainment value of new technology. In a historical blink of an eye, technology, ever evolving and improving, became an integral part of our leisure life.

"Our grandparents were blown away by radio, and that technology was the entertainment hub of the American home during their generation," said Craig Cincotta, senior product manager for Windows Vista at Microsoft Corp. "Our parents saw the arrival of color TV and VCRs. They were proud to have their TV, radio and stereo all in one beautiful cabinet."

"Our children have already begun to tap the next great development in entertainment technology," Cincotta said. "Thanks to the Internet and media center features in Windows Vista, it's possible to find, record, view, download and access all our digital entertainment right on our PCs."

In the early days of television, few people would have thought of being able to watch a program at any time other than when it was scheduled to air. "You made sure you were in front of the tube at the appointed hour, or you missed your show, simple as that," Cincotta said. Videocassette recorders revolutionized entertainment by allowing you to record your program when it aired and then watch it later. Today, digital video recording (DVR) technology has helped take digital entertainment to the next level.

By connecting a Windows Vista-based PC to your cable TV line, high-speed home Internet network, big-screen TV and stereo system, you can easily navigate through your favorite television programs, and record and play back content. Taking it a few steps further, you can also view vacation photos, play video games and listen to your favorite tunes - all from the home computer.

"You can now watch your favorite TV program while another person watches a previously recorded show in a separate room," Cincotta said. The content comes from the same PC, at the same time - made possible by using Xbox 360 and a Windows Media Center Extender to stream the experience throughout your house.

Here are some more ways the latest technology can help you and your family enjoy digital entertainment in your own home. All of the following are included as part of Windows Vista consumer editions:
* The built-in DVR helps ensure you never miss an episode of your favorite TV show. Connect it to a service that provides a constantly updated, Web-based program guide, and it's easy to record programs. If your system has more than one TV tuner, you can record more than one show at the same time.
* If you have friends over and want to share recent vacation photos, you can impress them with a digital photo slide show set to music. It takes no time at all to pull the slide show together on your PC and display it on your big-screen TV.
* Are your music CDs all over the house? You can cut the clutter by transferring your entire music collection to your Windows Vista-based PC. Just click the remote control to instantly access your albums (which will be displayed with cover art), and enjoy.
* If you have an Xbox 360 console, you can use a home wired or wireless network to link it to your PC, and then use its remote control to let Xbox 360 dispense your digital treasures to any room in the house.

More information about Windows Vista and how Americans use technology to access entertainment is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/default.mspx.

Courtesy of ARAcontent