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INTERACTION DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR INTERACTIVE ...

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the order of channels so that a viewer’s favorite channels appear first, providing an<br />

excellent example of user-centered design.<br />

Like DVRs and VOD systems, the strength of an EPG lies primarily in its ability<br />

to allow viewers to customize and gain greater control over their viewing experiences.<br />

2.4.3 Constraints<br />

As with any system, there is a strong correlation between the popularity of an<br />

EPG and its usability. As evidenced by Figure 2.3, the interface of the Gemstar-TV<br />

Guide EPG is extraordinarily cluttered. It is difficult to search by a particular program.<br />

The main menu is composed of many buttons that are not necessarily organized by what<br />

functions are used most often. The programming grid shows too few listings at a time,<br />

and requires the user to scroll far too much and frequently. In addition, up to one-third of<br />

the screen is used for advertising, taking space away from the primary information the<br />

user wishes to access. The interface of the Gemstar-TV Guide EPG is not optimized for<br />

the benefit of its users.<br />

According to a report from International Marketing Reports, the majority of<br />

viewers use an EPG to browse current listings or what is on next or later that same day,<br />

rather than to plan viewing more than a day in advance (2002). If this is true, EPGs must<br />

optimize their browsing functionalities to better serve this need. Today’s designs have a<br />

long way to go before they can be considered user-friendly applications.<br />

2.5 WEB TV<br />

A Web TV is a television set especially designed (or connected using a set-top<br />

box) to allow an Internet connection. The most popular Web TV operator in the U.S. is<br />

currently MSN TV (formerly WebTV). The most recent version, MSN TV 2, allows<br />

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