The Slingbox device by Sling Media allows you to connect via the Internet to the device at home and control your home theatre devices remotely. The player will then display whatever you are showing on your cable box, TIVO or other video player device. The VCR introduced the term “time-shifting” to those who could figure out how to program it. Now, with a bit more effort, you can experience “place-shifting” and watch your favorite shows from anywhere with a high speed connection.

For the Traveling Telecommuter, this overcomes one of the things about spending a lot of time away from home, especially outside the country - the inability to watch favorite shows, and sometimes even to find programming in your language. Now, with your laptop and hgih speed Internet, it is possible to watch those favorite shows, or even change the programming on the Tivo to catch a new favorite.

Future stories will explore the process of configuring the Slingbox, which will require the home Internet connection to have a static IP address and several other key steps.

A discussion on the impact of place-shifting is available on the Tech Beat at Business Week.