Mobile tv or tv on mobile? iterative contextual and usability user research on TV practices and experiences
Dr. An Jacobs (IBBT-SMIT) & Dirk Bollen (IBBT-CUO) Vrije Universiteit Brussel KULeuven
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Conceptual redesign : user research
Where, when and how is watching television on a mobile appropriate?
step 1: Information from other trials, contextual inquiry, literature
step 2: Proxy technology assessment = Using existing technologies that resemble as much as possible the affordances under development
Elicit the VARIETY of everyday life, user experiences/ practices to forecast everyday practices with future technologies
Integrated in a multi method social research plan
a) free access to vodaphone, with/without phone (4 weeks) b) logging use (Proximus) c) tasks (week 1) d) 4 cultural probe question cards (week 3) e) diary & auto-collecting photos (week 3) f) in depth interview with other proxies (after week 4)
Output: Analysis & recommendations; Personas & scenarios
Proxy Technology Assessment (PTA)
Connection Coverage: anywhere? Speed of connection consequence: zapping is difficult
Hardware: first place a useful phone quality of image and sound
almost everyone: no earphone use screen size?
“Voor het nieuws gaat dat nog, maar bij de sport zie ik toch graag de bal.”
Recommendations : Technical barriers
Safety issues
Theft Show off/mister gadget image Road safety
“Want ik vind ook een serieus bezwaar aan het kijken van mobiele televisie dat is dat je daar niet mee op een tram of in een bus of zo gaat zitten. (...) Allez ja ik zou me toch niet zo dadelijk nog veilig voelen.”
Recommendations : Safety and image
Channel: same as TV
Programmes: short
On demand N=572, (01/05/2006 – 31/05/2006)
I: Wanneer kijk je het meeste tv op je vast toestel? R: Dat is vooral 's avonds.
I: Een beetje een parallel met het mobiel toestel. R: Ja, alleen dat er 's middags is bijgekomen en de dode momenten overdag.
(Male: 45, non owner)
Recommendations : programmes & interactivity
View duration log Volume 4 weeks 10 persons
< 5 min. 469
5 min. - 15 min. 79
15 min. - 30 min. 20
> 30 min. 4
Personas & scenarios
Aim: communication of results in actionable way
User behavior and attitudes clustering Three potential profiles:
Pluggers Social fillers Long viewers
Pedro Mertens “ ik ga eerder op zoek gaan naar informatieve euh programma's”
- 43 j, Denderleeuw, girlfriend - Translator; commutes 20 min
- Basketbal, skiing, not much tv - News & NBA competition
- Weekend: film - Gadgets & design
- Internetradio, RSS feeds, looks for specfic information, downloaden
music, games
Mobile tv scenario plugger
- Pedro use the mob tv on the train or waiting - He watches for a short period, e.g news - Mob tv helps him to keep him informed in a quick way
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Design for mobile devices
Swiss army knife Sms Internet Music player Camera
Not the same as the real stuff
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Recommendation from user study
Mobile user is shifting context /environment more interruptible and easy to distract
Outside/inside Not performing one obvious task Present in a public, social space
Quality video and audio
‘Channel hopping’ and navigation (faster, less steps, intuitive language use) Faster less steps intuitive language use
Mobile tv = extension of tv In competition with other activities
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Literature on mobile interface & TV
All video content should be provided through a single ‘Mobile tv’ area
Putting the guide between the user and the content significant changes the nature of the tv experience (Knoche & McCarthy)
Avoid obstructing tv screen space
Provide a clear way of adjusting the channel without going ‘back’
Different forms of channel selection (Taylor & Harper) 1. Channel hopping 2. Wait for information 3. Knowledge of program gide 4. Paper program guide / on screen EPG
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Conceptual model
First abstract design of the user interface Based on information from user- and task analysis Focus on:
Overall structure Logic Navigation
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Concept model : channel hopping
Iteration 1: try out carrousel idea
Iteration 2: adaptation on technical requirement on loading time
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Paper prototype Iterative development by user tests
• 6 users • different scenario’s and functionalities • by doing 10 tasks • pre and post questionnaire
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Paper prototype results
Navigation Begin trial : users prefer navigation carousel End trial : users prefer EPG Caution! We did not simulate channel loading time No information about long term use
EPG Function timeline in EPG is not clear Selection of programs in EPG
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Implementation
DVB-H first choice
But: Implementation of concept EPG & carrousel on a 3G device
Version of paper prototype without suggested improvements
A lot implementation problems Platform Java
But: test version realized in short development time
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Evaluation research setup
Step 1: Task observation 3G introduction of epg and carrousel for 3G test users - interface: same issues as with paper prototype
Step 2: diary and focusgroup 3G & DVB-H - new 4 week period (Nov-Dec 2007) 2 groups:
1) first group of 7 persons recruted by survey MICT in Ghent using DvB-H -experienced 3G prototype during focusgroup
2) 9 people from first phase PTA research reusing 3G with prototype application -experienced DVB-H during focusgroup
• Both 2 week diary and auto-collecting photo’s
Reaction on the prototype EPG is popular
Gives a good program overview Familiar interface : tv
EPG solution too advanced Channel hopping is improved with introduction of navigation carousel
Evaluation results
Comparing practices: Appropriation of television on mobile device Same topics as in 2006
Validation of previous insights Validation of made persona and scenario’s No visible changes in attitudes and behavior with mobile TV
Changing reference point people experienced with 3G in 2006