SMARTPHONES, TABLETS AND COMPUTERS USAGE TO ACCESS TV-RELATED CONTENT

AN USER CENTERED DESIGN APPROACH

Abstract

Smartphones, tablets or computers used to access TV content aren`t working in their contexts of use. Through an document analysis in 57 sites and 17 applications, an online questionnaire with 156 responses and 25 semi-structured interviews, it was found the content formats offered by TV companies through the internet (videos, second screen, extended and thematic). Also it was found that the smartphone is all the time with the user (it`s already the first screen), but it isn`t working to access the television content. The uses of tablet is very low, because it has the same functions of the smartphone and isn`t portable (used only via WiFi). The computer is only used when people need to focus, usually in activities related to studies and work. People still prefer to access the content directly on the TV set, but are watching less in a traditional way (because the internet offers flexible hours). When watching TV in the traditional way, people use the internet at the same time (but the activities are unrelated with the TV). Television boosts the internet usage behavior, but the opposite almost don`t occur (although this occurs via social networks). People only associate the videos to TV content on the internet, the second screen doesn`t work and extended or thematic contents aren`t seen as TV. Some suggestions are made to improve the interfaces of smartphones, tablets or computers used to access TV content.