NTL asked for volunteers without access to the Internet to carry out trials on an Internet Unit which plugged into your TV and BT freephone and had a separate keyboard. The Unit worked OK, but couldn't access banking and a number of other sites. The trial wasn't a success and was later replaced with a Bush Unit which was better, but NTL dropped the whole idea (probably to concentrate on some other minor financial problems they had!).
I still have both Units which anyone is welcome have, but possibly the Museum at Romsley if its still in existence.