From Entertainment Device to IoT Terminal

Abstract

Following the trend of home appliances and devices being growingly interconnected into the Internet of Things (IoT) system, smart TV helps define the future of human living as part of the smart home IoT system. This research explores viewers' perceptions toward four emerging interactivity functions of smart TV: the interaction between viewers and TV functions, between viewers and friends, between viewers and programming, and viewers' interaction with products appearing in TV shows. The technology has been mature to provide the four interactivity functions, though they are yet to be adopted by all smart TV sets so far. Our research shows that the viewer's residence was a significant moderator in the preference for the interactivity functions. Viewers from developed regions enjoyed the four functions more than those living in underdeveloped regions. Social media habits and the power usage of information and communication technology are positively associated with the preference, while need for cognition, age, and gender had little effect.