Proven Interaction Design Solutions for Accessing and Viewing Interactive TV Content Items

Abstract

This chapter describes interaction design solutions for interactive television (iTV) applications. A user task-based approach to interaction design guidance for iTV applications is suggested to easily integrate with a user-centred application development process. Based on the analysis of existing applications, several generic, iTV-specific user tasks are presented. For these user tasks, proven interaction design solutions were empirically identified by usability testing eight broadcasted applications. Specific design solutions to support the user tasks accessing content item and viewing content item are described. Usability test results and design guidance on the design of menus, video multi-screens, indexes, content presentation areas, paging, and scrolling are presented. Target audiences of this chapter are the iTV user interface designers and usability researchers.