Making Interactive tv Easier to Use: Interface Design for a Second Screen Approach

ABSTRACT

Interactive television (iTV) has the potential to revolutionize the way we consume broadcast media, but users still find both the notion of iTV and the services currently available problematic. This paper describes a project that investigates a representative group of users' aspirations, and barriers to iTV service engagement in the UK. This primary research informed the development of new User Interface (UI) and service solutions that addressed these barriers. Specifically, a second screen solution was developed to remove the need for iTV services to use on-screen graphics, dramatically improving the possibilities for effective interaction and navigation for iTV interfaces and services. The effectiveness of these solutions was evaluated through the testing of these new iTV services in a representative group of family homes.

KEYWORDS:

• interactive TV
• PDA
• user interface
• second screen

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leon Cruickshank

BIOGRAPHY

Dr Leon Cruickshank is a lecturer and researcher at Brunel University in multimedia and broadcast media. His research interests focus on the interface between technology and user-centred service and interface design. He has led undergraduate degrees in both Multimedia and Broadcast Media and is an external examiner at Salford University.

Emmanuel Tsekleves

Dr Emmanuel Tsekleves is a lecturer in multimedia design and technology at Brunel University, and has research interests in multimedia service creation technologies for broadcast and broadband networks.

Roger Whitham

Roger Whitham is an interaction/user experience designer specializing in user-centric research and development. He is also undertaking a PhD investigating personal information management.

Annette Hill

Professor Annette Hill is the director of research at the University of Westminster's School of Media, Arts and Design. She is an author most recently of Reality TV: Audiences and Popular Factual Television (Routledge, 2004).

Kaoruko Kondo

Dr Kaoruko Kondo is a research fellow at the University of Westminster; her research interests are in the area of audiences, children and the media, and diasporic media.