Common User Interaction Behaviours on a TV

There are several ways and methods with which a user can interact with a TV. However the most commonly used are:

Ability to browse through current/future programs and channels. This ability is named as "Electronic Program Guide" or the EPG.

There are a few sub-sets of this ability such as being able to set a reminder to watch or record a future program or block a program that contains restricted content etc.

"Video on Demand" or VOD enables a person to be able to watch a movie of their choice, whenever they want to, and be able to pause, rewind or fast forward the same at the click of a button, just like a DVD player.

Other modes of interaction include Games, ability to search and select content and customizing the overall experience into a personalized format, ability to perform activities such as check your e-mail or chat with your buddy or order a pizza etc.

Further more, some forms of interactive TV require the user to participate actively while a certain program is being broadcast. For example - Polls (Asking questions like - Who do you think will be fired - Linda, Chandra, Alex or Jasmine; and then having the user to provide a key input for an answer).

There is however much debate as to how effective and popular this kind of truly interactive TV can be.

We shall delve into each of these methods of interaction in detail later.