Set Top Boxes

A Set-Top Box (STB) is simply something that connects to a TV and inputs some video signal to it. Technically, a cable box, DVR, game console, DVD player are all STBs, even though usually they are placed under the TV.  :-)
For today's presentation the following STBs were demonstrated:  the Apple TV, a ChromeCast Stick, the  Amazon Fire TV Stick, the Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro, a Roku 2 XD, and a Raspberry Pi.  If your TV is not 'Smart' (i.e., doesn't connect to the Internet and have apps) these things can add that capability.  And, depending on the device, they can mirror, or otherwise copy, the display from a hand-held phone or tablet to the big screen.
With all the possible combinations, this gets confusing.  Here's the handout from the presentation that attempts to lessen that confusion.   <link>