Panoramic Video: Design Challenges and Implications for Content Interaction

In this paper we explore viewing and interaction in an emerging type of interactive TV, where viewers are presented with panoramic ultrahigh-definition video combined with extensive interactive control over view selection. Instead of delivering only what will be consumed, emerging TV services offer high-resolution panoramic video to the viewers, enabling them to more freely explore the broadcast content by selecting regions of interest and navigating within the larger panoramic image. However, as we open up the television space both in field of view and in terms of the freedom given to viewers, new interactional challenges emerge. We have done user studies on two systems for interacting with panoramic high-resolution video, one based on the tablet interaction and other on the gesture interaction. Our findings revealed a number of design challenges concerning properties specific to panoramic video. Based on findings from the user studies and the identified design challenges, we have compiled a set of the design recommendations on how to support interactive viewing of panoramic content