Abstract
In the MobTV research and development project VTT Information Technology and
its partners are developing a prototype for mobile digital television. This means
that a person can watch digital television broadcasts from a small portable device
whenever he wants and wherever he is. In the MobTV research project the use of
two different sizes of portable devices is explored: PDA (Compaq) and a portable
computer (Fujitsu).
The Human Centred Design approach is used in this project. This means that
the potential end-users participate in the development and evaluation from the very beginning of the project.
This research report first reviews briefly what is happening in the field of
mobile digital television. Then it reviews recent studies on the usability of mobile
devices and studies related to digital television. Some evaluation and research
methods used in previous studies are also covered. After an overview of related
work, the report presents research questions, methods and results of the first
consumer interviews concerning mobile digital television in Finland. The purpose
of the interviews was to find out peoples’ attitudes to and first impressions of
mobile digital television.
Altogether 29 interviews were held at the end of summer 2001. The
interviewees watched recorded TV programs on devices of two different sizes: a
PDA and a portable computer. The interviews were conducted in different places,
e.g. schools, stations and trains. Most of the interviewees reacted positively to
mobile television. Still, at this point people feel that mobile television should be
integrated into some other device or service. That way mobile television would be
more easily accepted. TV programs suitable for small screens are different from
those suitable for bigger screens. In every interview setting, people said they would most likely watch the news on mobile television. The schools were very exited about the possibilities that mobile digital television would bring, but at the same time they were worried about the costs.
its partners are developing a prototype for mobile digital television. This means
that a person can watch digital television broadcasts from a small portable device
whenever he wants and wherever he is. In the MobTV research project the use of
two different sizes of portable devices is explored: PDA (Compaq) and a portable
computer (Fujitsu).
The Human Centred Design approach is used in this project. This means that
the potential end-users participate in the development and evaluation from the very beginning of the project.
This research report first reviews briefly what is happening in the field of
mobile digital television. Then it reviews recent studies on the usability of mobile
devices and studies related to digital television. Some evaluation and research
methods used in previous studies are also covered. After an overview of related
work, the report presents research questions, methods and results of the first
consumer interviews concerning mobile digital television in Finland. The purpose
of the interviews was to find out peoples’ attitudes to and first impressions of
mobile digital television.
Altogether 29 interviews were held at the end of summer 2001. The
interviewees watched recorded TV programs on devices of two different sizes: a
PDA and a portable computer. The interviews were conducted in different places,
e.g. schools, stations and trains. Most of the interviewees reacted positively to
mobile television. Still, at this point people feel that mobile television should be
integrated into some other device or service. That way mobile television would be
more easily accepted. TV programs suitable for small screens are different from
those suitable for bigger screens. In every interview setting, people said they would most likely watch the news on mobile television. The schools were very exited about the possibilities that mobile digital television would bring, but at the same time they were worried about the costs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Espoo |
| Publisher | VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland |
| Number of pages | 41 |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
| MoE publication type | D4 Published development or research report or study |
Publication series
| Series | VTT Research Report |
|---|---|
| Number | TTE5-2002-18 |