iTV MODEL

An HCI Based Model for the Planning, Development and Evaluation of iTV

Applications

Alcina Prata

Information Systems Department, Higher School of Management Sciences (ESCE), Setúbal Politechnic Institute (IPS),

Campus do IPS, 2914-503 Setúbal, Portugal

Nuno Guimarães

Informatics Department, Faculty of Sciences (FCUL), University of Lisbon,

1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal

Piet Kommers

Psychonomy and Human Performance Technology Department, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, University of Twente,

7500 AE Enschede, Netherland

Teresa Chambel

Informatics Department, Faculty of Sciences (FCUL), University of Lisbon,

1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal

Keywords: iTV model, iTV development, methodologies, guidelines, heuristics, design.

Abstract: This document describes a Model for the Planning, Development and Evaluation of iTV Viewer/User

Interfaces. Explained are the motivations for the development of the Model and what is new about it. Also

mentioned, are the models, methodologies, theories, guidelines, heuristics, design patterns, processes,

“steps” and “tips” that were combined in order to achieve the presented Model. Some conclusions are

presented and also future lines of research are point out.

1 INTRODUCTION

There is no doubt that iTV, which can be defined as

a TV system that allows the viewer to interact with

an application that is simultaneously delivered, via a

digital network, in addition with the traditional TV

signal (Perera, 2002) will replace the traditional TV

viewing habits. Being a recent research area, there is

a long way to go and new types of personalized

applications (Bennet, 2004; Port, 2004;

Chorianopoulos, 2003; Damásio, 2004; Eronen,

2003; Gill, 2003; Quico, 2003; Quico, 2004) and

services need to be created and tested. This task will

be easier with the use of an appropriate model.

However, there is no specific, complete and detailed

model. Instead, some scattered UI principles,

guidelines, heuristics, design patterns, processes,

“steps” and “tips” are usually followed. Some of

them new and specific for the development of iTV

applications derived from practical experience.

Others, not so new, resulted from an adaptation of

the ‘desktop computing paradigm’. However, the

‘desktop computing paradigm’ is not appropriate for

iTV. In fact, the desktop metaphor is suitable to

completely different user feelings, aspirations, states

of reflexive cognition, activities and devices. Thus,

the phases involved in the planning, development

and evaluation of iTV applications need to be

researched, especially, in terms of design principles,

design guidelines, prototyping techniques and

evaluation methods. The model we present addresses

specific and detailed aspects, serving as a guiding

351

Prata A., Guimarães N., Kommers P. and Chambel T. (2006).

iTV MODEL - An HCI Based Model for the Planning, Development and Evaluation of iTV Applications.

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Signal Processing and Multimedia Applications, pages 351-355

DOI: 10.5220/0001572103510355

 SciTePress

tool to those who are involved in iTV research,

design and production.

2 MODEL

The model proposed model relies on the following

assumptions:

1) iTV is examined from the perspective of the

HCI discipline;

2) An iTV project is the result of a traditional

TV program augmented with an interactive

application;

3) The persons who interact with the iTV are

being referred to as Viewers/Users (V/U);

4) This model is to be used as a framework for

designing and evaluating iTV projects and is not a

specification of standards or a strict set of rules. The

overall framework allows designers some flexibility.

Due to space constraints, only the phases which

are specific for iTV applications are described,

leaving out phases that may be considered common

to the design of other interactive application.

2.1 Planning Stage

At the planning stage, the specific iTV phases are:

1) Choose and classify the television program

considering that certain genres are more “compelling

for interactivity than others” (Lamont, 2003a);

2) Characterize the Viewer in terms of

demographic profile (age, sex, socio-economic

status); viewing patterns (e.g., social viewing,

routines) and technology experience, which includes

computer, set-top box and enhanced television

experience. This information will help to make

decisions on the following phase and on the

development stage;

3) Identify the reasons why people watch the

chosen television program. In order to help identify

these reasons, one may give a look at the uses and

gratification theory (Livaditi, 2003) which defends

that consumers use media, in order to satisfy certain

needs, namely: surveillance, personal identity,

integration and social interaction, and diversion

(Livaditi, 2003).

2.2 Development Stage

A User-Centered Design approach should be

followed (Chorianopoulos, 2004; Perera, 2002;

Nielsen, 1994a; Lamont, 2003b). This implies two

things: First, that the design should incorporate

“users concerns and advocacy” from the beginning

(Lamont, 2003b) and implies design for usability

which is an approach that puts the user, instead of

the system, at the center of the process when

developing software.

The development stage, may be divided into 3

main processes, namely: conceptual model,

prototyping, and formative - usability and affective -

evaluation framework.

2.2.1 Conceptual Model

A conceptual model is a critical part of the design

process since it defines the system image, that is to

say, how the software will look like and act:

1) One must start by identifying the interactive

content. A survey conducted by Livaditi (2003) has

shown that ritualized needs (needs of entertainment,

companionship and escape) “remain the driving

force behind TV usage”. Thus, in designing

interactive applications we must consider that:

- Entertainment and communication applications

(which cover ritualized needs) will be adopted easier

by the mass audience;

- informational and transactional applications

(which cover instrumental and cognitive needs)

should be designed in order to offer entertainment

and/or communication elements as well;

The quality of interactive products consists of

three elements: utility (usefulness), ease of use

(usability), and enjoyment (affective quality)

(Chorianopoulos, 2006). Thus, the Interface will

have to be designed in accordance. It will also have

to be the less intrusive possible in order not to

interfere or conflict with the TV viewer experience

(Lamont, 2003a).

2) Choosing the layout - main choices rely on

overlay or embedded design. On the overlay design,

the video always displays in full-screen mode so that

the interactive content is placed over top of the

screen. On the embedded design, the video area is

reduced so that content is placed around it (Lamont,

2003a). There is no ideal solution and, before

choosing the layout, it is important to carefully

consider each one advantages and disadvantages.

For example, an overlay design advantage is the size

of the TV window which is the same as regular TV.

A disadvantage is that the content on top of the TV

window may be distracting and condition legibility.

3) Describe the system semantics - for each

design element on the system, some details must be

described, namely, the element name, description,

properties, actions, appearance, limitations, related

elements and examples of use.

Important to note that all interaction design

decisions, to be taken during this section, should be

based in specific iTV V/U interface principles and

guidelines. Principles and guidelines concerning

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APPLICATIONS

352

text, graphics, background, interactivity and

technical options. The detailed description of

principles and guidelines may be found at (Prata,

2005).

2.2.2 Prototyping

From the several techniques available for creating

prototypes, the implementation of a high-fidelity one

is recommended, even if low-fidelity prototypes are

used in preliminary phases. A high-fidelity prototype

is an interactive prototype with realistic input and

output interfaces. Thus, it is adequate since the

intention is to validate the product idea and the

adequacy of each interface component with future

V/U.

In the creation of the iTV prototype, and as

suggested by Chorianopoulos (2004), some key

elements should be considered, namely:

1) The Hardware platform – a TV set should be

used as an output device; a remote control should be

used as an input device. A laptop and an infrared

receiver (as for instance, the IRMAN infrared sensor

available at: http://www.intolect.com/) can be used

in the setup. It allows simulating a “typical watch

TV environment”, that is to say, an environment

which includes the viewer, a TV set and a remote

control. In order to avoid interference with the TV

viewing experience, no other hardware should be

visible to the V/U.

2) The Software platform - there are no iTV

authoring tools offering an explicit iTV conceptual

model or a TV-based grammar to help the design

process. Thus, for the development of iTV

applications, traditional programming languages and

authoring tools are often used. For instance:

- For the OpenTV platform, the iTV application

may be developed by using C programming

language or a generic visual authoring environment;

- For Multimedia Home Platform (MHP)

platform, the iTV application may be developed by

using Java programming language or an authoring

environment like Alticast MHP;

- For the MSTV (Microsoft TV) platform, the

iTV application may be developed by using HTML

and Javascript. Another solution might be using

Microsoft Visual Studio, which has lots of tools for

the design, development, test and deployment of an

application. (Chorianopoulos, 2004).

Important to remember that, especially when a

new type of iTV project is being created, evaluate it

may became a difficult task for the V/U’s, since they

have nothing similar to compare it with. In that case,

the development of more than one prototype is

encouraged.

2.2.3 Formative – Usability and

Affective - Evaluation Framework

The evaluation should be of two types: formative

evaluation which should occur during the whole

process of development, and final evaluation, which

should occur after the conclusion of the prototype.

Formative evaluation should be based in expert’s

opinion and also V/U feedback from a user-centered

design perspective. In a very early phase of design

and once the first prototype sketches have been

created, conduct an “expert” usability evaluation

using heuristics and streamlined cognitive

walkthroughs (Lamont, 2003a). Also, conduct a V/U

usability evaluation using the “benchmarking lab

studies” (Lamont, 2003b). For both, experts and

V/U, conduct an affective evaluation

(Chorianopoulos, 2004). For more detail, see figure

1, where the specific iTV applications evaluation

methods and tools are highlighted. Note that the

affective evaluation process involves the use of

some tools, namely:

- SAM – Self Assessment Manequin to measure

affect;

- AD ACL – Activation Deactivation Adjective

List to measure motivation;

- Pii scale – Personal Inventory Involvement

Scale to measure involvement;

- PL scale – Program Liking Scale to measure

program liking;

- Log Files – to measure engagement;

- HQ scale – Hedonic Quality Scale to measure

hedonic quality.

The measuring tools presented, and which were

found to be appropriated for iTV applications, were

retrieved from usability engineering,

communication, advertising and consumer research

literature.

2.3 Final Evaluation Stage

Final evaluation should be based in expert’s opinion

and V/U feedback and it may be conducted in a

similar way than the formative evaluation process,

but carried out on the final application, with all

information and operation implemented.

3 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE

WORK

A model for the planning, development and

evaluation of iTV interfaces was presented. First

feedback obtained from professionals and experts in

the areas of interactive television and HCI was

iTV MODEL - An HCI Based Model for the Planning, Development and Evaluation of iTV Applications

353

encouraging. Some iTV designers and developers,

will use the model in real situations soon in order to

test its adequacy. As to future work, we are

researching the design and development of novel

iTV applications and plan to enrich this model with

new findings and insights.

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