Ambient Social TV Gunnar Harboe, Crysta Metcalf, Frank Bentley, Joe Tullio, Noel Massey, Guy Romano Drawing People into a Shared Experience

Introduction

Summary Social Television: creating a remote shared experience around watching TV Ambient devices for social awareness Two-week user-study in 2x5 households Ambient devices helped put people in touch Social TV demands interaction options for multiple levels of engagement

Social Television: creating a remote shared experience around watching TV

Ambient devices for social awareness

Two-week user-study in 2x5 households

Ambient devices helped put people in touch

Social TV demands interaction options for multiple levels of engagement

Remotely shared TV-watching experience “Like watching TV together” Presence + communication (+ sharing content) Social Television

Remotely shared TV-watching experience

“Like watching TV together”

Presence + communication (+ sharing content)

Buddy list with channel/program context Program recommendations Text chats Voice calls Video chats Emoticons Multiplayer quiz games Social TV Features

Buddy list with channel/program context

Program recommendations

Text chats

Voice calls

Video chats

Emoticons

Multiplayer quiz games

Social TV Systems AmigoTV (Coppens et al. 2004) Telebuddies (Luyten et al. 2006) Media Center Buddies (Regan & Todd 2004) PARC Social TV (Oehlberg et al. 2006) Reflexion (Cullinan & Agamanolis 2006) ConnecTV (Boertjes 2007) CollaboraTV (Harrison & Amento 2007) 2BeOn (Abreu et al. 2001)

AmigoTV (Coppens et al. 2004)

Telebuddies (Luyten et al. 2006)

Media Center Buddies (Regan & Todd 2004)

PARC Social TV (Oehlberg et al. 2006)

Reflexion (Cullinan & Agamanolis 2006)

ConnecTV (Boertjes 2007)

CollaboraTV (Harrison & Amento 2007)

2BeOn (Abreu et al. 2001)

Motorola Labs’ Social TV Project

Social TV 1 Investigated live voice sessions Provided social and practical benefits Some indications of potential problems 1 2 3 4 Harboe et al. (2008) “The Uses of Social Television” in ACM Computers in Entertainment

Investigated live voice sessions

Provided social and practical benefits

Some indications of potential problems

Social TV 2 Investigate naturally occurring instances of interaction, not-pre arranged sessions Investigate behaviors leading up to a communication session Introduce ambient displays as extension of presence

Investigate naturally occurring instances of interaction, not-pre arranged sessions

Investigate behaviors leading up to a communication session

Introduce ambient displays as extension of presence

Social TV 2 Test an experience without freeform communication (no voice, just presence) Primarily a research probe: design priority to gather data, not provide the best possible experience

Test an experience without freeform communication (no voice, just presence)

Primarily a research probe: design priority to gather data, not provide the best possible experience

System Description

System Components

System Components

Features Ambient devices Presence Communication

Ambient devices

Presence

Communication

Ambient Devices Ambient Orb (Ambient Devices, Inc.) Virtual Orb (Chumby) (www.chumby.com)

Ambient Orb (Ambient Devices, Inc.)

Virtual Orb (Chumby) (www.chumby.com)

Ambient Devices Social Awareness (even when TV off) Changing colors (Pulsing) Number of buddies watching Social TV: None One Multiple

Social Awareness (even when TV off)

Changing colors

(Pulsing)

Number of buddies watching Social TV:

None One Multiple

Presence

Presence Buddy list

Buddy list

Presence Buddy list

Buddy list

Presence Buddy list Channel banner

Buddy list

Presence Buddy list Channel banner

Buddy list Channel banner

Presence Buddy list Channel banner Pop-ups

Buddy list Channel banner

Presence Buddy list Channel banner Pop-ups

Buddy list Channel banner Pop-ups

Communication

Communication Suggestions

Communication Suggestions

Suggestions

Suggestions Communication Emoticons

Suggestions

Communication Suggestions Emoticons

Suggestions Emoticons

Communication Suggestions Emoticons Canned text messages

Suggestions Emoticons

Communication Suggestions Emoticons Canned text messages Metcalf et al. (2008): “Examining Presence and Lightweight Messaging in a Social Television Experience” – forthcoming

Suggestions Emoticons Canned text messages

Study Description

Study Design 2 groups of 5 households 1 system/household, all 5 connected 2 weeks per group

2 groups of 5 households

1 system/household, all 5 connected

2 weeks per group

Participants Group A Female (+families) 26-33 4 married, 1 engaged 3 with (small) children Friends and family members Group B Female (+families) 46-53 4 married, 1 divorced All with teenagers Friends and family members

Group A

Female (+families)

26-33

4 married, 1 engaged

3 with (small) children

Friends and family members

Group B

Female (+families)

46-53

4 married, 1 divorced

All with teenagers

Friends and family members

Data and Analysis Interviews, voice mail diaries, system logs Qualitative analysis: Affinity method

Interviews, voice mail diaries, system logs

Qualitative analysis: Affinity method

Usage

Measurable Use 185 N/A Canned text messages sent 120 59 Emoticons sent 160 62 Buddy’s show joined via buddy list 390 185 Buddy list views 181 154 Social TV watched (hrs) B A Activity

Reported Use “ Every time I walked back and forth, I’d see [the orb]” (B3) “ Every time I passed by, a thousand times a day, I would look to see what color it was.” (B1)

“ Every time I walked back and forth, I’d see [the orb]” (B3)

“ Every time I passed by, a thousand times a day, I would look to see what color it was.” (B1)

Reported Use “ Every time I walked back and forth, I’d see [the orb]” (B3) “ Every time I passed by, a thousand times a day, I would look to see what color it was.” (B1) “ Just about every time I turned it on, if I saw someone was on, I called their house.” (B1)

“ Every time I walked back and forth, I’d see [the orb]” (B3)

“ Every time I passed by, a thousand times a day, I would look to see what color it was.” (B1)

“ Just about every time I turned it on, if I saw someone was on, I called their house.” (B1)

Use-Cases “ The first thing I’ll do is I’ll look at the orb. […] Then I’ll turn on the TV.” (A2)

“ The first thing I’ll do is I’ll look at the orb. […] Then I’ll turn on the TV.” (A2)

Use-Cases “ I’ll quickly turn it on and see who’s on and what they’re watching.” (A1)

“ I’ll quickly turn it on and see who’s on and what they’re watching.” (A1)

Use-Cases “ Something they were watching might grab my attention more than what I thought I was going to watch.” (A3)

“ Something they were watching might grab my attention more than what I thought I was going to watch.” (A3)

Use-Cases “ I’ll see what they are watching and I’ll usually send out shout-outs based on what they are watching, or the thumbs down or whatever.” (A2)

“ I’ll see what they are watching and I’ll usually send out shout-outs based on what they are watching, or the thumbs down or whatever.” (A2)

Use-Cases “ I do thumbs up [or] thumbs down, wait to see if there’s a reaction, and if there is I’ll send a message.” (B3)

“ I do thumbs up [or] thumbs down, wait to see if there’s a reaction, and if there is I’ll send a message.” (B3)

Use-Cases “ I’ll say, ‘Who’s there?’ and if it comes back that it’s not one of their kids and it’s my girlfriend or something, then I’ll pick up the phone.” (B1)

“ I’ll say, ‘Who’s there?’ and if it comes back that it’s not one of their kids and it’s my girlfriend or something, then I’ll pick up the phone.” (B1)

Use-Cases “ I noticed the orb was blue, so I knew somebody had their television on, and sure enough, it was [B2’s household]. And I knew that her husband’s at work and her kids were at school, so I deduced it was [B2]. And so without even saying ‘Who’s there?’ I immediately went to her channel, which was Oprah , and I sent her a thumbs-up. And then she thumbs-upped me, and then two seconds later I said [to myself], ‘This is dumb!’ And then [I called her, and] we had a whole conversation.” (B1)

“ I noticed the orb was blue, so I knew somebody had their television on, and sure enough, it was [B2’s household]. And I knew that her husband’s at work and her kids were at school, so I deduced it was [B2]. And so without even saying ‘Who’s there?’ I immediately went to her channel, which was Oprah , and I sent her a thumbs-up. And then she thumbs-upped me, and then two seconds later I said [to myself], ‘This is dumb!’ And then [I called her, and] we had a whole conversation.” (B1)

Findings

Ambient Awareness Ambient orbs provided peripheral social awareness while not watching “ Since I had [the Chumby] in the kitchen, it was just while I was cooking… it was like, ‘Oh, I wonder who’s on.’” (A1) “ I notice when the color’s on, whether it’s purple or blue; I know that someone else is actually on the system.” (B3)

Ambient orbs provided peripheral social awareness while not watching

“ Since I had [the Chumby] in the kitchen, it was just while I was cooking… it was like, ‘Oh, I wonder who’s on.’” (A1)

“ I notice when the color’s on, whether it’s purple or blue; I know that someone else is actually on the system.” (B3)

Feeling Connected This social awareness inspired a feeling of togetherness “ I liked coming into the house and saying, ‘Oh, someone’s home watching TV too now.’ […] It was like a friendly feeling; like, ‘Someone else is home and I’m not the only one home tonight.’” (B1)

This social awareness inspired a feeling of togetherness

“ I liked coming into the house and saying, ‘Oh, someone’s home watching TV too now.’ […] It was like a friendly feeling; like, ‘Someone else is home and I’m not the only one home tonight.’” (B1)

Motivation to Turn On Ambient orbs provided reasons to turn on the TV “ The orb was purple, so I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of people on!’ and so I turned it on.” (B1)

Ambient orbs provided reasons to turn on the TV

“ The orb was purple, so I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of people on!’ and so I turned it on.” (B1)

Providing Context Situating the ambient displays within a larger system enriched the ambient information “ There’d be no reason to have an orb [if] I can’t turn it on and see who it’s connected to.” (B1) “ As the two weeks progressed, I kinda had a feel [about who might be on].” (A1)

Situating the ambient displays within a larger system enriched the ambient information

“ There’d be no reason to have an orb [if] I can’t turn it on and see who it’s connected to.” (B1)

“ As the two weeks progressed, I kinda had a feel [about who might be on].” (A1)

Increasing Engagement Full involvement Talking on the phone Exchanging lightweight messages Co-viewing program Viewing buddy list Peripheral awareness Noticing ambient display

Reactions “ A stupid toy” (B1) “ Just kinda boring” (B5b) “ I wouldn’t buy it” (A4) “ It’s just no use” (B4) “ So unnecessary” (B3b) “ [Not] something that I would use” (A3)

“ A stupid toy” (B1)

“ Just kinda boring” (B5b)

“ I wouldn’t buy it” (A4)

“ It’s just no use” (B4)

“ So unnecessary” (B3b)

“ [Not] something that I would use” (A3)

Reactions “ A stupid toy” (B1) “ Just kinda boring” (B5b) “ I wouldn’t buy it” (A4) “ It’s just no use” (B4) “ So unnecessary” (B3b) “ [Not] something that I would use” (A3) Not their close friends Not enough free communication

“ A stupid toy” (B1)

“ Just kinda boring” (B5b)

“ I wouldn’t buy it” (A4)

“ It’s just no use” (B4)

“ So unnecessary” (B3b)

“ [Not] something that I would use” (A3)

Not their close friends

Not enough free communication

Reactions “ A stupid toy” (B1) “ Just kinda boring” (B5b) “ I wouldn’t buy it” (A4) “ It’s just no use” (B4) “ So unnecessary” (B3b) “ [Not] something that I would use” (A3) “ I love the orb” (A2, B5) “ We liked the orb” (B1) “ The coolest part” (A3) “ Cool” (A2, A4) “ That was neat” (A1b) “ The orb is the interesting thing” (B4)

“ A stupid toy” (B1)

“ Just kinda boring” (B5b)

“ I wouldn’t buy it” (A4)

“ It’s just no use” (B4)

“ So unnecessary” (B3b)

“ [Not] something that I would use” (A3)

“ I love the orb” (A2, B5)

“ We liked the orb” (B1)

“ The coolest part” (A3)

“ Cool” (A2, A4)

“ That was neat” (A1b)

“ The orb is the interesting thing” (B4)

Conclusion

Takeaways: Ambient Television use can be a meaningful social signal, well suited to an ambient display Ambient information becomes richer when it is part of a greater system

Television use can be a meaningful social signal, well suited to an ambient display

Ambient information becomes richer when it is part of a greater system

Takeaways: Social TV Social television systems benefit from an ambient mode of interaction Need to support interactions at all different levels of engagement

Social television systems benefit from an ambient mode of interaction

Need to support interactions at all different levels of engagement

Current/Future Work Study communicative Social TV systems Further in-home testing, longer periods Explore other ambient presence modes Embed ambient devices in other systems

Study communicative Social TV systems

Further in-home testing, longer periods

Explore other ambient presence modes

Embed ambient devices in other systems

Thanks Larry Marturano Elaine Huang Seonyoung Park Ambient Devices, Inc. chumby.com

Larry Marturano

Elaine Huang

Seonyoung Park

Ambient Devices, Inc.

chumby.com

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