Technologies and Techniques Behind Next Gen Interactive TV

Interactive TV is, in itself, an innovative premise, allowing viewers to actively participate in and interact with their favorite content. But which technologies and techniques are propelling interactive TV to new heights? Let’s take a look.

Personalization Opportunities

When it comes to interactive media, one of the key benefits is that it provides a unique experience for each person. Just take something like online casinos, for example. When players try their hand at online slots, they can choose from a wide range of different games, some of which have different bonus mechanics such as Megaways, Fire Blaze, or Spin & Win. Players select when to spin the reels, which are generated at random as well. Depending on the result, the bonus features are activated randomly, too. With this in mind, the way players interact with the game makes for a unique gameplay each time, offering an immersive and authentic casino experience.

This same logic is now being applied to both on-demand and live TV. On one hand, on-demand TV shows can allow audiences to make crucial decisions throughout the show. These decisions can directly impact the narrative of the show, making viewers feel more immersed and engaged with the content. In addition, viewers of live sports can personalize their feed depending on what they want to get out of the viewing experience. This allows audiences to chop-and-change between player stats, live feeds, backstage cams, and more, boosting viewer satisfaction.

Smart Interaction

Of course, all of the examples we’ve mentioned above require audiences to physically pick up their remote to press a button or click their mouse in the right place on the screen. As technology has continued to advance, so too has the push towards more hands-free controls. One example of this is the development of voice recognition controls, which already comes included in many smart devices thanks to the integration of existing voice-activated assistants like Siri and Alexa.

This technology allows users to change channels, open apps, browse databases and more using simple voice commands. On the other hand, gesture recognition is also becoming a popular alternative, particularly when used in-line with gamification. Motion-detecting cameras are used to identify gestures and motions, allowing users to swipe left, scroll up, or turn up the volume with a slight gesture.

Companion Apps

In today’s day and age, it may feel like almost everything has an app! However, when it comes to interactive TV, specialist apps can open up the possibility of innovative viewing experiences. This is because users can have a second-screen experience, meaning they need to have their app open on a secondary device in addition to watching their chosen content.

For example, Amazon Prime has synchronized information displayed on the smartphone app throughout the runtime, explaining various locations, identifying actors, and so on. For gameshows, this could present the possibility for audiences to play along with the show in real time. In addition, social media integration can help to promote the show as well as boosting audience engagement.

As you can see, there are a variety of different technologies that are transforming the way that we consume content, making for increased immersion, engagement, and personalization. And with technologies like AI, VR, and AR consistently growing in popularity, who knows what is next for interactive TV.