INTERACTION DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR INTERACTIVE ...

3.10 CONCLUSIONS
Unlike platforms that continually evolve and converge based on technological
advancements, television genres have existed for decades and offer a more stable
modality for analysis. In fact, as noted by Gronmark earlier in this chapter, the success of
future iTV programming will depend upon finding those aspects of interactivity that
appropriately enhance each genre.
Depth of information, contest, and participation are three elements inherent to
many genres of television programs that make them particularly well poised to take
advantage of what iTV can offer. Many of the observations arising from the examples
presented in this chapter are key contributors to the principles that are laid out in chapter
five. I offer some observations and questions arising out of thinking about television
genres abstractly in application to successful iTV programming:
Programs with a high depth of information can benefit from iTV as a vehicle to
meaningfully deliver the additional content. The use of multiple camera angles
and audio streams for sports and documentaries are examples of effective
applications.
Viewers enjoy the ability to customize their viewing experiences, as evident by
the success of multistream sports offerings around the world.
Programs with an element of contest allow viewers to experience a greater sense
of agency, of even being a player in the game itself.
The simplest of interaction models, such as voting, polling, and trivia often garner
the highest levels of audience participation. These methods work by tapping into
the contest and participatory aspects of the programs.
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