Making digital tv easier for less-technically-inclined people

ABSTRACT

Digital TV systems are becoming increasingly complex. Less-technically-inclined people may find these systems difficult to use. This qualitative usability study observed less-technically-inclined people using a typical multi-device, multi-remote-control digital TV system after having been instructed by a more-technically-inclined member of their household, who had also just discovered how to use the system. The results showed that, overall, the problems experienced by the less-technically-inclined people were similar in nature to those experienced by the more-technically-inclined household member. The most serious problems involved determining which remote control to use for a given function, making remote control mode errors, and having difficulty going back to TV from recordings and locked channels.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: User-centered design; Graphical user interfaces (GUI)

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
digital television, dvd, dvr, epg, mode errors, novice users, remote control modes, remote controls, tv, usability