Category Archives: TV

Rediscovering a Missing Dimension: This Time is Face Time

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Video calls have been part of human dreams and science fiction for a long time. Already at the beginning of the 20th century we have been thinking in ways to make this a reality. Although the technology to make it happen has been around for some years already, it is now when it is been executed in a way we really want to use it.

 

2001 Space Odyssey Video Call

2001: Space Odyssey (1968)


Nothing like a face

Psychologists believe that our feelings are represented in big part through faces; with more than 40 muscles, faces can deliver more than 3000 different messages that our brains decode during a conversation. So no wonder we love faces.

A moving image, in real time, of a person makes us feel closer and confident.

In business, talking to a real person makes us feel comfortable and safer. Several studies showed that attractive shop assistants sell more because we usually trust good looking people. It’s the most primitive part of our brain who is giving us these directions and it’s difficult to fight against it. We enjoy to hear and to see real people.


Apple FaceTimeTerrific user experience and implementation of video calls.




Shaping the next tools

We might be facing a new area in computer-based human communications. In the same way little children are growing up with touch interfaces and expect all interfaces to behave in this way, the general public might get used to video interfaces and might expect to get this dimension embedded in everything they use.

Specially smart phones, the new iPad 2 and Internet-enabled TVs will push for the use of video calls: no need for additional devices and setups, they are always on, always with you. No need to sit in front of the PC.

Samsung TV, iPhone and Skype

An Internet-enabled Samsung TV with Skype and an iPhone.




A little revolution

A project management software that makes video calls easy could improve communication, a warmer and video-capable Facebook, a video-based online shop or a video customer support. The list could get long if the medium, interfaces and user experiences are all properly designed; they have to be easily accessible avoiding to be intrusive.

We will be closer to friends and family, safer and more confident doing business. This is a new little revolution.

 

Sources:

S.F psychologist has made a science of reading facial expressions

Do facial expressions reflect inner feelings? Or are they social devices for influencing others?

Videophone entry on Wikipedia

Neuro Web Design, Susan Weinschenk. New Riders Press.




Design of an App for Internet-Enabled TVs

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Designing applications for Internet-Enabled TVs is much different than designing for the desktop or mobile web. Here I explain the process we used at ConTV to design LIVO, a video on demand service.



What is LIVO?

LIVO is an application that runs -so far- on Samsung TVs. Users can install the application for free directly from their TV using the Samusng App store. LIVO provides an interface to browse and play video on demand from different partners offering different shows.




Problems

We wanted to design a great application, something easy and fun to use. On the way we found several problems:

  • Distance: you have to test your concepts and designs on a real TV and a few meters away from it.
  • The TV is mostly a passive medium, the app had to start playing video as soon as possible.
  • Usability: managing an app with a remote control is incredibly limiting.
  • Text must be big.
  • A very common problem in many TV apps: navigation. It’s difficult to highlight interface elements to tell users in which part of the app she is.
  • Important trade-offs: usability against beautiful interface.



    • Users

    We decided we had to know more about how people use TVs at home, so we organized interviews with target users. We talked to them and made a lot of questions in order to discover how they choose shows, how they share what they see, their motivations and general behavior around the TV. With all the information we created personas that proved to be extremely valuable during the first part of the design process.



    LIVO TV App Menus and Interface



    The design

    After a strategy session supported by the user research we decided which features this video on demand service should provide to satisfy the target users. These are the mean aspects from the LIVO app:

  • It provides fast access to videos.
  • Easy navigation.
  • Great content.
  • Easy to read text.
  • Simple but with a few additional features.
  • Recommendation engine is transparent to the user.



    • Links

    If you want additional information about LIVO, you can visit the Samsung Smart TV Contest website. Additionally you can find information about the Internet-Enabled TV business on the ConTV website.




    Mercedes-Benz at the OMD

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    I was surprise when I read that the Head of Digital Communication of Mercedes-Benz (actually, Daimler Chrysler AG) was going to be part of the panel of the Building Communities discussion. What does Mercedes has to do with online communities? Well, in fact, a lot. Sven Doerrenbaecher showed the public how Daimler is using online communities to power the Mercedes-Benz brand.

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    Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape Logo

    Very impressive is what they achieved with its Mixed Tape, an online community for music download that has 2.8 million users. Thanks to Mixed Tape, Mercedes, an “old economy” company, has 18% of the German music download market. Music was free, artist were applying to get into the compilations and people were discussing about it. Every compilation cover was showing a different car and the whole design was following the Mercedes brand.

    Unfortunately, Mixed Tape is closed now, but Mercedes says they are preparing a new one, to be release in early 2008. The good thing is that they left the forums opened, and they ask the users for recommendations for the new versions. Well done!

    Mercedes-Benz IPTV Image

    Another interesting thing is the Mercedes-Benz.tv, and IPTV service performing different programmes. The over-all design of the Mercedes TV site is very good and attractive.

    This was an excellent example of old-into-new-economy. Bravo Mercedes!