Development of a Second Screen Content Platform

Abstract: Smart televisions are becoming more common in households and with the added capability to both connect to the internet and launch applications they have the possibility to help create a more engaging interactive experience. An interactive experience that extends beyond the classic remote control and into the personal second screen of every viewer. Second screens are frequently used while watching television making them ideal for creating audience participation and extending the television experience. By looking at upcoming technologies related to interactive television and their interaction with second screens as well as design guidelines related to second screens, interactive television and social television we create a platform for prototyping web-based interactive television. The platform uses a system based on the technologies found in upcoming televisions and consists of a client and server. The server acts as a television that can be detected by the clients using Universal Plug and Play and then open web pages sent by the client. The client presents a user with a list of second screen content which can include applications, web sites and interactive content shared between television and second screen.