ActiveTV, an AMD Project

Opportunity

ActiveTV is an internet television platform which bridges the gap between online broadcast networks and the television viewing audience. In 2008, AMD was funding the development of ActiveTV and looked to us for design strategy and interface prototypes.

Discovery

ActiveTV is a client software application that accesses online video content through channels such as Veoh, YouTube, etc. The software runs on a home PC, which maintains the internet connection, and the client interface is projected onto the television via a networked set top box.

Uniquely challenging was the design of the navigation. The interface needed to be navigable with a standard television remote using only the four directional keys and the enter button. The software would not support a cursor or pointer.

Another challenge in the development of the interface was the lack of processing power in the set top box. The core software was developed in Flash which provided a low-overhead platform. Static graphics could be complex, but motion graphics were relegated to simple vectors. Frame rates had to be relatively low, also.

Solution

We produced many solutions around two key concepts.

First, we approached the interface design utilizing a simple �gskin�h model. This approach produced a core structure for on-screen elements with several �gthemes�h which could be activated by the user.

Our second approach was more robust. Focusing on the nature of the medium, we animated the interface elements so that the behavior of the system would simplify the content architecture. More unique and more engaging, these prototypes pushed the envelope as much as the AcitveTV platform itself.

Result

This project was not a commercial endeavor so the objective was merely a proof of concept. We delivered many interface solutions and design prototypes which contributed to the overall development of ActiveTV.