When I was in college, I was a cord-cutter, just as Parks Associates data suggests. The 18-24 crowd is often prone to subscribing to only Internet and neglecting pay-TV in favor of OTT services such as Netflix and Hulu+. Back then, I sat my desktop next to my entertainment center and did everything on the computer using the TV set as a monitor, not just watching movies. There was a wireless keyboard and mouse on the coffee table, and sometimes on the floor, but none of my friends cared.

Now, as an adult with a family, the computer has been securely reassigned to the desk, and I have a pay-TV connection, just like most other U.S. households. Still, I miss my favorite shows occasionally when the DVR doesn’t catch them. Unfortunately, that means watching video on the desktop in the office or lugging the computer tower to within the reach of the television’s HDMI cord. If I want to watch with anyone else in my family, the second option is going to be the favorite, despite the extra trouble.

I am not alone in my HDMI woes. One of the primary reasons that devices like Roku and Chromecast have taken off so quickly is the desire by many to watch their entertainment on the television, but with minimal mess of cords and connections. These devices allow for an established relationship between the content and the television. Consumers can set it up and leave it there, ready for use whenever the mood strikes.