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Design principles for preschool children’s interactive TV

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Abstract

Preschool children have increased access to media via a number of platforms, including digital interactive television. However, the viewing and interaction needs of this user group have not been extensively researched. The project reported in this paper investigates preschoolers’ interactions with a simulated interactive television set-up. The study involved the development of an electronic programme guide prototype and its empirical evaluation. This research was carried out with children in Brazil and in the United Kingdom, aged between three and four. The main issues that arose during the interaction with the prototype application are documented, and a list of design principles is presented to assist in the design of accessible preschool interactive television applications for this age group.

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Notes

  1. Participants’ comments are in italic and the comments of participants in Brazil are translated into English. Participants 1–11 are Brazilian, 12–22 are from the UK study.

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Acknowledgments

This work could not have been carried out without the cooperation of the nurseries in the United Kingdom and Brazil. Thanks to children, parents and staff from: Trenzinho Feliz and EMEI Clycie Mendes Carneiro (São Paulo), the Childcare at Lara and Barnaby Bright (London).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, Mathematical and Information Sciences, University of Brighton, Watts Building Room 602, Lewes Rd, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK

    Ana Hulshof, Lyn Pemberton & Richard Griffiths

Authors
  1. Ana Hulshof
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  2. Lyn Pemberton
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  3. Richard Griffiths
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Hulshof.

Additional information

This work is based on first author’s PhD thesis [1].

Appendix 1: hints used in evaluation studies

Appendix 1: hints used in evaluation studies

1.1 Mouse navigation

  • Hint 1—You should click

  • Hint 2—You should move the little hand (pointer) so it is over it

  • Hint 3—You could click on the yellow button to deselect all buttons

  • Hint 4—You could click on the red button to go back

1.2 Remote control navigation

  • Hint 5—You should press OK

  • Hint 6—You should use the arrow buttons to move the little hand (pointer) so it is over it

  • Hint 7—You could use the yellow button to deselect all buttons

  • Hint 8—You could use the red button to go back

1.3 Menu buttons

  • Hint 9—Take a look on the buttons on the bottom of the screen

1.4 Categories

  • Hint 10—We are looking for (name of the programme), it is a (category name) where do you think we can find (category name)?—For simple searches

  • Hint 11 –We are looking for (name of the programme), it is a (category 1 name and category 2 name). Where do you think we can find (category 1)? How about (category 2)?—For Boolean searches

  • Hint 12—That’s not right, is it?

1.5 Alternative input devices

  • Hint 13—You should press the left button on the touch pad

  • Hint 14—You should move the little hand (pointer) so it is over it

  • Hint 15—You should press the spacebar

  • Hint 16—You should use the arrow keys to move the little hand (pointer) so it is over it

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Hulshof, A., Pemberton, L. & Griffiths, R. Design principles for preschool children’s interactive TV. Univ Access Inf Soc 12, 21–35 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0263-7

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