This study discusses a paradigm for exploring the digital TV information domain, characterized by a large number of channels. The proposal is based on the introduction of ambiguous schemes for organizing information related to the TV domain; these schemes, already popular and successful for seeking information on the web, are here introduced for helping people who appreciate iterative and interactive search, involving mechanisms of associative learning. Serendipity is here used as an approach complementary to exact organization schemes and useful especially for zappers who browse the TV domain without knowing, in advance, what they are looking for. The TV domain is here presented as a fully navigable 3D world populated by visual counterparts of TV channels, called time-pillars. These artifacts are composite objects that offer simplified access to TV information and a number of related functions. The paradigm introduced in this study supports users who prefer the explorative approach for navigating TV streams, and in particular the part of the TV domain that is not supported by any Electronic Program Guide (EPG) or other complementary information services. The 3D metaphor can be used also as an interface for EPGs, in order to obtain a less fragmented view of the whole TV domain. The impact on users has been validated with an iterative procedure, i.e., a pilot study and a subsequent more detailed experiment, which have confirmed the usefulness of the approach and given useful hints for future development.
The Time-Pillars World. A 3D Paradigm for the New Enlarged TV Information Domain
PITTARELLO, Fabio
2004-01-01
Abstract
This study discusses a paradigm for exploring the digital TV information domain, characterized by a large number of channels. The proposal is based on the introduction of ambiguous schemes for organizing information related to the TV domain; these schemes, already popular and successful for seeking information on the web, are here introduced for helping people who appreciate iterative and interactive search, involving mechanisms of associative learning. Serendipity is here used as an approach complementary to exact organization schemes and useful especially for zappers who browse the TV domain without knowing, in advance, what they are looking for. The TV domain is here presented as a fully navigable 3D world populated by visual counterparts of TV channels, called time-pillars. These artifacts are composite objects that offer simplified access to TV information and a number of related functions. The paradigm introduced in this study supports users who prefer the explorative approach for navigating TV streams, and in particular the part of the TV domain that is not supported by any Electronic Program Guide (EPG) or other complementary information services. The 3D metaphor can be used also as an interface for EPGs, in order to obtain a less fragmented view of the whole TV domain. The impact on users has been validated with an iterative procedure, i.e., a pilot study and a subsequent more detailed experiment, which have confirmed the usefulness of the approach and given useful hints for future development.
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