A Conceptual Model for Future TiVo Services

By Konstantinos Chorianopoulos

This research is based on the realization that the desktop computing paradigm is not appropriate for television, because it is adapted to fundamentally different user aspirations and activities. Instead, the virtual channel is proposed as a model that explains the proper design of user access to interactive television programming. The virtual channel is a model that aids the organization and dynamic presentation of television programming from a combination of live broadcasts, prerecorded content and Internet resources for each set-top box. In this article, we introduce the rationale and benefits of the virtual channel model for interactive television applications.

Nowadays, there is growing evidence from the marketplace that information technology is migrating from the PC in the office to the home media station in the living room (Wallich 2002). The home media station (HMS) category encompasses devices that range from MP3 juke boxes (HP dec100), digital satellite receivers (Nokia Mediamaster), digital video recorders (TiVo, ReplayTV), as far as combinations of the above (Digeo Moxi Media Center). Unfortunately, user access to the HMS is usually done according to the manufacturer’s idiosyncrasy or by applying rules from the desktop experience (Carey 1997).

Strong evidence of the importance of a metaphor for the case of the HMS is provided by O’Brien et al. (1999), in an ethnographic study of a digital set-top box trial, in which they point out the need for a ‘working model’ of the technology being employed by users in home activities.

In my view, neither the vision of five hundreds channels (now a chaotic reality), nor the vision of a single personalized channel (pursued by IT-minded developers) is suitable. A small number of personalized virtual channels offers enough choices to cater for serendipity in media experiences, while simplifying the choice from vast and diversified sources of media content.

The ubiquity of broadcast transmissions has established a universal method for access to media programming. The television and radio channel is a familiar concept for providing easy access to audiovisual content across all user groups. By exploiting the ubiquity and familiarity of the broadcasting mentality, we propose the virtual channel as a conceptual model for access to digital media content.

Traditional television experience consists of two layers: 1) the background is reserved for video play-out, while 2) the foreground is used to display overlaid information, either relevant to the background programming or time critical data. However, both layers are created and controlled at the media source.

The core idea behind the virtual channel proposition, as depicted in the figure above, is that the decision-making about media programming has shifted from the media source to the HMS. The television experience is now created and controlled at the HMS from a combination of local storage, real time broadcast transmissions and Internet resources.

In conclusion, the organization of media content into a small number of personalized virtual channels simplifies the choice from a vast array of available broadcasts, stored content and Internet resources. The presentation of media programming from virtual channels gives more control to the user, who becomes an important factor in the televised content. The virtual channel model suggests only a minimal shift from the current patterns of television use (Lee & Lee 1995), while it focuses further research on the design of a user interface for creating and managing virtual channels.

You can also read the rationale for the virtual channel model, a description of the applications (personalized advertising and interactive music video clip programming) that have been already designed on the basis of the virtual channel model, download a poster of the virtual channel to keep the rules always close at hand, and download an early implementation of the virtual channel reusable software component (Virtual Channel ActiveX Control) to be used in prototyping appropriate interactive television applications.

About UITV.INFO | Editorial team | Questions and Answers | Contact | Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright © 2002-2008 UITV.INFO. All rights are reserved by UITV.INFO or the respective Publishers and Authors.
Reproduction of material from UITV.INFO without permission is strictly prohibited.