What is the Java TM Plug in SSV Helper

My experience might help explain it's need or unneeded status: My ATI dependant Arkview external video processor, a USB item that goes to a big television to use it as a monitor for watching Netflix there in HD, was refusing to work after a recent Java update, and my computer was requesting JRE and requesting this SSV item install be activated when I tried to configure the video device, and then further requested an older Java be reinstalled. That gave me two Java installations at the same time, but the video worked.

Reading this site, I determined to go to ATI for new drivers.

After installing the latest drivers for the ATI device, I could uninstall the old Java and everything still worked. I couild disable the SSV Java aplet and everything still worked.

Functionality was preserved by the old Java version and the SSV aplet, but was unnecessary. It was better to update my drivers from the ATI source, after which the latest Java update was sufficinent to do what is needed, in a more secure fashion.

Incidentally, an ATI driver update offered by Windows Update had started my troubles, I've since learned to not install driver updates from Windows Update, but rather to use those prompts to tell me instead to go to the manufacturers web site for new driver downloads.

I use 64bit Windows 7 Professional and IE8, and try to be fully updated all the time.

Many thanks to the trech folks who take the time to answer dummies like myself, for whom troubles like these are so difficult to deal with.

???  Do you mean keep Java, or get rid of it?  I've disabled it for now and I can't see any difference.

Yeah right just think if everyone gets rid of java the only widespread language interoperability code, windows users hafta worry about will be .net.  Just think of that another innovative third party app (java) bites the dust, making us even more dependant on the monolith.

Specially since java is in the same boat as flash/flex in its duel with rival silverlight.

These softwares are client based, so third party stuff has to be installled on yer system before you can take advantage of products that use 'em.  Since the current generation of early adopters baulks at adding bourbon to their cola, preferring instead to buy their booze in little ready mixed cans it is difficult to visualise many 'going to the trouble' of adding third party support codings to their brand new outta the box system if there is another way already installed and available.

Hang on!  I seem to remember a long time back when gui based OS' first hit the shelves, many of us selected windows precisely because it was flexible anough to allow third party innovations run on it.

Why are we so eager to forgo the advantages of an almost universally available and useable OS which allows us to play with it in all sorts of ways, just because some are blase about playing with their puta?

But that means those producing these softwares hafta bite the bullet and stop chucking everything bar the kitchen sink into their single click installs.  I hate the fact that my best puta, the one I try to as little as possible non core apps on, would load nearly 90 'services' (87 exactly) on boot unless I devoted a few hours of techtective work slimmin it down.