CMT1300 COURSEWORK 1

CMT1300 Coursework 1



ABSTRACT

This paper looked at how everyday users of iTV feel about the interactive part of iTV. In a series of studies we investigated how people use iTV services; their likes, dislikes, preferences and opinions. We then developed a second screen-based prototype device in response to these findings and tested it with iTV users in their own homes.

CMT1300 Coursework 1

Introduction

Interacting with digital media is at the epicentre of every household. In recent years Interactive Television (iTV) has become a household technology on a global scale. However, iTV is still a new technology in the early stages of its evolution (Park et al, 2006).

Television sets have a central, visible screen area. Around the outside, surrounding edge of this area there is an extra volume of screen space which varies in dimension according to the set manufacturer's specifications. Graphics and text placed in this 'unsafe' area can fail to display.

Phase 1

Picture Safe

It defines the largest region of screen that viewers are likely to see. However, because screens vary considerably, background graphics (those that do not hold vital information) may continue to the edge of the screen.

Text Safe

It defines the boundaries of the area in which vital information such as logos and text can be placed. These specifications are based on the PAL (Phase Alternative Line) Standard Screen Size (See Appendix).

Pixel Size

Digital images are made up of grids of coloured blocks or "pixels" (a contraction of the words "picture" and "elements"). These units are the smallest individual elements of the image.

Computer monitors use pixels that are square; on a television screen they are slightly rectangular, roughly 1.067 times as wide as they are tall.

Phase 2

The initial study provided a plethora of data to inform the development of prototypes that were evaluated in a second study. In particular we wished to investigate the possibility of employing a second screen to mediate interaction with iTV services. To investigate this we designed a touch-screen Remote Control device capable of supporting all of the interactive functions currently available only on the TV itself. There have been very few projects and research work that focuses on the control and interaction of the iTV via a PDA with and being the most prominent and complimentary to our research work. In addition to this there have been projects associated with the use of touch pads (but not touch sensitive display screens) as part of remote controls and in using PDAs to control household electronics using both stylus and speech input. There have also been projects that control TV in a multi-user context with mobile phones. Our objectives were to create a prototype that simulated the iTV experience as closely as possible within a study participant's home. This included the integration of live Freeview TV (a free to air terrestrial digital television service in the UK) [10] in the system. As we were developing a new User Interface (UI) approach to the EPG and services we decided to create a parallel ...