A study of interaction modalities of an interactive multimedia system

We present results of a usability study of new interaction modalities applied to a standard iTV multimedia platform. To ensure the comparability of results, a functionally identical multimedia user interface based on the open XBMC platform was created. Two interaction study setups were tested - one based on a remote-control-based interactive multimedia system and the other on a touch-screen-based system. In the first study setup, a traditional TV remote-control interaction was compared to the interaction using a simplified TV remote controller in combination with voice commands and simple tactile gestures. In the second study setup, interaction using a simplified and an extended set of touch gestures was explored. Both setups were evaluated by an usability study with 14 participants. A standard SUS method was used for usability measurement. By adding other modalities, such as voice commands and tactile gestures, improved the obtained usability score (81.8) when compared to the traditional TV remote-control interaction modality (75.4). The touch-gesture-enabled second-screen device also improved the user experience (86.1 for a simple set of the touch gestures). Summarizing the results in one sentence, ?Less and simpler is more.? can be concluded.