User Experience in Mobile Social TV: Understanding Requirements and Presenting Design Guidelines

Abstract

Social TV has received a lot of attention recently as a concept of enabling viewers to have the feeling of togetherness over distance. Social TV services are not necessarily limited to conventional television platforms. With the widespread use of portable devices, mobile social TV has the potential to enrich the traditional viewing experience. However, there still exists limited research on how to design a usable mobile social TV application to create a decent user experience. In this study, we, therefore, aim to understand user requirements through conducting a three-week field study and to present design guidelines for mobile social TV applications. Results of the study show that mobile social TV appear to be an intriguing concept that enables viewers to socialize with others over distance. The participants, in the study, cherish the opportunity to engage with their friends or family members via mobile social TV. Factors such as genre, platform, feeling of co-presence, and participants’ personal and social predispositions play a profound role in user experience.