[UX] Idea to improve channel zapping time in set top box
When we improve UX in some cases, that may be related to the policy or preference of the product. Even if we can improve some processes, or user experiences, we don’t suggest a better idea for them. This is not a critical problem in the product, but this can be a great experience to users in some cases. I tried to pop up a new idea to improve the channel zapping time, and gave a suggestion in the article.
I am going to state how to improve the Set top box(STB) today.
Since I worked in this industry, there has been some problems about channel zapping. Channel zapping means that you are changing or among the channels though. (That's why sometimes the term, channel zapping, can be used as channel surfing.)
Most of manufacturers have had this problem as far as I know because that problem comes from the principle to receive the signal from the broadcasting. Anyway I am going to say this in detail later.
As you know, there are three types of broadcasting like terrestrial, cable, satellite. The more broadcasting type has the channel, the slower we can change between the channels. That means satellite has more problem about channel zapping compared to others. (Normally, the number of channels in satellite broadcasting is more than others.)
Where does this problem come from? Let's talk about this deeply below.
When you change the channel with your remote controller, Set top box(STB) starts to search the channel group. We can't recognize the channel group when we do change the channel, but firstly the device is searching the channel group. We call this TP(Transponder). I am sorry that I didn't explain this technical basic enough before. Please understand this is just an idea to improve the product, and I am sure that you can easily understand what I say because I am going to explain it with easy way as much as possible.
As I said above, TP is a channel group. TP includes some channels. When we change the channel, TP should be changed or not. Please see the image blow to understand it.
[Picture 1] Channel list unconsidered efficient channel zapping
If your channel list from your set top box as above, your STB have to change TP twelve times from channel 01 to channel 12. (I imagined that you just change your channel sequentially one by one from the first channel of your channel list.)
Moreover, this will make a terrible problem in channel zapping. Mostly channel zapping problem comes from changing TP. I mean bottle neck in channel zapping is how much you change TP while you are changing channels.
[Picture 2] Channel list considered efficient channel zapping
However, If you change your channel list as above, you don't need to change TP too much like the first case. You can just move the channels from channel 01 to channel 12 with only four times.(You can just change TP four times.) That means in the second case you can theoretically take an advantage of channel zapping time four times faster than the first case.
I just assumed two things while coming up with this idea.
1. Most users can't remember all number of channels, and they just normally change the channels with UP or DOWN key with their remote controllers, so I think this idea can be idealized for satellite broadcasting that has lots of channels.
2. Broadcasting company or manufacturer are willing to sacrifice the channel list for improving the channel zapping performance.
If you are still want to make your users satisfied your broadcasting service or your product. Why do you hesitate changing your approach. I think this is not a big deal for them at all.
By the way, this is not so efficient if users try to change the channels with the number key. In that case, uncertainty is increasing more and more so it's better to find another way to solve that problem. However, at least this idea will be better to improve the problem that I mentioned above.
I am always thinking about how to improve the problem for the users, and I love it, and I think that's what I am working in UX industry.
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