According to a “crazy cool” press release from states: “The days of being a lazy couch potato wielding only a TV remote are over. From digital televisions to voice-controlled environmental systems, many of these cutting edge innovations are designed to raise sofa surfing to a new level of high-tech activity.” ‘Activity’ obviously being the operative word.

Satellite, digital, and now interactive television and the Internet, have apparently “changed leisure habits irrevocably,” Sony Corp. of America CEO Howard Stringer said at the later in this prize press release.

It goes on: “A typical American, without getting up, can now visit the bank, do their shopping, buy stamps, turn off the lights, turn up the heat, activate the alarm and of course, take a nap.” Which means what? Americans are going to even more fat? Harsh I know, but very fair.