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Introduction
Arrow NewMedia is a leading developer and provider
of tools designed to attract, entertain, enlighten,
and retain web site visitors. Our technology facilitates
the delivery and updating of online events and
activities (what we call interactivities) across
multiple platforms. The interactivities have been
developed so that customization and content updates
can be done quickly and easily. These features
allow the applications to be re-purposed to meet
a wide variety of objectives, and offer numerous
branding opportunities to promote events, companies,
products, services, etc. Like other
programs and similar software, it would be essentially best to be running on broadband connection for fast Internet access.
Interactivities
Our goal has been to develop a Chinese menu-type
suite of tools and activities that provide flexibility
in how they are used. Like Tinker Toys, they are
easy to put together in different combinations
for different looks and functions. Some will work.
Some won't. But, the key is to keep trying to
come up with the right combinations and to listen
to user feedback. We won't be able to force the
user to adapt to our approach. It has to be a
partnership of trying, evaluating and retrying.
Our technology includes:
The Real-Time Rating Tool™
The Real-Time Rating Tool™ (RTRT) is a proprietary
dynamic polling/rating program developed by Arrow NewMedia.
It may be offered across one or more platforms,
including interactive TV, the Web, and wireless
devices. The RTRT application allows thousands
of users to vote on or rate an event or show in
real-time and immediately and continually view
the accumulated tally.
Not only can the look and feel of the application
be customized, but, depending on the event being
rated, the results can be displayed in variety
of formats: graphs, bar charts, pie charts, or
even a dynamically changing "applause meter."
For events such as Political Conventions, users
could continually rate a speaker and see dynamic,
cumulative results. The results might show high
ratings while the speaker advocates tax cuts.
Then, a minute later, the display may show lower
ratings while the politician is discussing foreign
policy.
The system can also be used to gather valuable
marketing data. For example, the advertisements
during the Super Bowl get as much interest and
discussion as the game. Viewers could rate each
commercial using an evaluation scale or by answering
a set of questions. Their responses can be compiled
to give each commercial a rating that would be
displayed graphically on screen. Such detailed
feedback is a Holy Grail to advertisers and marketers.
Other potential applications for the Real-Time
Rating Tool include rating TV shows and events.
For the Academy Awards, users could first rate
the stars clothing as they enter the hall. During
the show, the viewing audience could select who
they think should win each award. Though not necessary,
participation of the networks and programmers
would enable more robust and dynamic functionality.
To see how the RTRT might look being used during
the Super Bowl, click
here
Epplause Meter™
This is a variation on the Real-Time Rating Tool
technology. The system works in much the same
way as the old applause meters that were used
on entertainment competition shows. While watching
a show, users can indicate their vote from a menu.
The results are constantly displayed as a small
digital meter in the corner of the screen. The
meter is changing constantly as data is updated.
E-Mote Control™
Have you ever found yourself talking to or yelling
at your TV--rooting for a team, or disagreeing
with the "expert" talking heads? Do
you wonder if other viewers are thinking the same
thing that you are? Arrow NewMedia has developed
the E-Mote ControlTM to let viewers express their
opinions digitally and, optionally, see how the
rest of the viewing audience feels at the same
time. The E-MoteTM, like other Arrow NewMedia applications,
offers tremendous flexibility and opportunity
for customization as well as branding. For a football
game users can try and guess the next play. Will
it be a Run, Pass, Kick, Sack, and Turnover? Because
of the simple graphical interface, the E-MoteTM
also lends itself to work well for children's
activities.
Data Capture
Our tools and applications are designed to gauge
opinions, get feedback, take requests and get
users involved. There can be a tremendous amount
of data generated that can have great research
and marketing value. Arrow NewMedia offers data mining
services and can present data in a variety of
formats. Because we develop for a variety of platforms,
participation can be broadened from just iTV viewers
to include individuals using their PCs at home
and/or their wireless devices wherever they are.
User Registration
Arrow NewMedia has a registration system that can
capture basic information such as email address
and ID, or it can be expanded to request a much
broader range of data. It is designed to let users
add to and expand their information over time
as they feel more comfortable with the system
or become more involved.
User registration and authentication is a key
component of any online activity. Users enjoy
online activities, which helps make them feel
part of a digital community. While all of Arrow NewMedia's
tools and events allow for users to participate
as anonymous individuals, incentives are always
offered to encourage registration.
In addition, we can integrate our system into
an already existing membership setup. We can validate
users against an existing database and supplement
that information with new figures and statistics.
The data is kept secure and can be made available
to the client in a variety of formats. Arrow NewMedia
also has a user email validation system the helps
reduce false email addresses and useless data.
Factoids
Many viewers have seen how the VH1 show, Pop Up
Videos, has brought new life to old and outdated
music videos. By providing facts and information
about the events, people and places in the films,
viewers get a fresh take on old material.
Arrow NewMedia has several different systems that
present factoids and information in a variety
of formats. The viewer can request the facts by
clicking on a link, such as getting more information
about a movie or star during an awards ceremony.
Or the information can be dynamic and launched
by a digital trigger imbedded in the video or
launched by an event moderator.
Possible implementations include Drop-Down Factoids
(our answer to Pop Up Videos). Imbedding triggers
for interactivities relating to specific TV commercials
may prove to have tremendous appeal to broadcasters
selling advertising.
Polling Module
Arrow NewMedia also has polling and survey tools
that can serve a variety of functions - from gauging
opinions to popularity polls just for fun. Polls
and surveys also present an opportunity to garner
information from site visitors that may be useful
to R&D, marketing, etc. One feature that sets
our Polls apart from others is our Web-based creation/management
tool that enables the creation and scheduling
of polls and surveys without programming. The
different types of poll this supported are:
- Single-click Poll - this tool allows members
to place a single vote and see how their opinion
compares to the larger polling audience. This
poll also supports a series of questions which
the user is prompted to answer in sequence.
As the user answers each question, the responses
are tabulated and compared to a pre-defined
range of values. The final screen of the sequence
presents the user with their final “score.”
This poll works very similarly to a classic
polling engine.
- Meter Poll – using the “Applause
Meter” as an example, members would place
multiple votes within a short amount of time,
therefore instantaneously swaying the polling
scale.
- Toggle Poll – this tool allows users
to place a single vote in one category, then
change their vote. When the vote is changed,
the previous vote would be pulled from one category
and placed in another.
Hot Spots/Click Zones
Arrow NewMedia's Hot Spot technology lets users interact
with a show or image on the TV screen. For example,
if a sports related show is being broadcast, the
user can click on an area of the screen (perhaps
where a sports player is standing) and get marketing
information (price, where to buy, etc.). It can
even be tied to an e-commerce solution and the
user can buy the item right then and there. Clicking
in a certain location can bring up a menu with
a number of options.
Menus
In any design for an activity on iTV, we have
a number of approaches for menus and navigation.
WebTV, AOLTV and other systems all handle the
user interface a little differently. We can work
with the different technologies to simplify menu
systems and navigation using HTML, Flash and other
programs.
Trivia
Our Trivia Games can be broadly customized to
reflect various content and design changes. Our
proprietary tools allow us to quickly implement
a variety of game modifications.
Trivia is one of the most popular activities
on the Internet. A trivia game can be about any
topic and is a fun way to get people involved.
We can create a game based on a theme, event,
or product, entertaining the users while they
learn more. Again, our ability to concurrently
deliver to multiple platforms greatly expands
the potential of this application. All of our
Trivia Engines can handle graphics, photos, and
sound, giving them tremendous flexibility and
adding to both entertainment and branding opportunities.
Users can play alone or as part of a larger audience
in a contest format.
The Single-player Trivia game has the ability
to handle an unlimited number of questions and
has a database that can be edited or added to
at any time through a Web-based interface. It
also can handle any number of designs and layouts
and is browser independent.
Multiplayer Trivia features the ability to handle
an unlimited number of questions and works from
the same database used by our Single Player Trivia.
The capacity of our multiplayer game to handle
sound and graphics and can enhance to quality
of game play and the overall experience. The game's
intermission, intro, and ending screens can be
branded for sponsorship and/or advertising.
Majority Rules
Arrow NewMedia has a popular game called Majority
Rules. This is a cross between Family Feud and
Jeopardy. The answers to questions are not right
or wrong in terms of fact, but in terms of how
the majority of people have answered. Participants
answer opinion-based questions and try to guess
how the majority has voted so far. The players’
responses are tallied and added to those of all
previous players, so the answers themselves become
dynamic. Our ability to customize the look, feel,
and content of the games create a multitude of
branding opportunities.
For example, for a NHL-based game, the types
of opinion-based questions range from superlatives
(who was the best goalie) to personal (which position
would you rather play) to subjective (what's the
worst thing about arena food). These types of
games are especially good at getting debates and
conversations going making them an ideal companion
for our chat engine.
Fun and Games
The goal with interactive TV is to get users involved.
One of the tried and true ways of doing this is
through games. Arrow NewMedia is a leading developer
of games and activities for online communities,
whether it's Web, iTV or wireless devices. Using
the tools and technology we have at hand, we can
develop a broad range of entertainment. Play along
versions for shows like Jeopardy, Who
Wants to be a Millionaire are obvious. But,
other shows would benefit even more. Think of
Survivor where the audience is a voting
member of the tribal council. Think of a Miss
America pageant with the viewers casting a vote.
The following are just some of the activities
that could be used in conjunction with shows and
events.
Dress Up/Paper Doll
- With this activity, you can dress an individual,
much like the old paper dolls. Or, you can created
a creature like the children's flip books where
you put the head of a lion on the body of a goat
on the feet of a chicken. With Network participation,
the same tool could be used to let users Mimi's
or Drew's outfit for an upcoming show. The concept
could just as easily be applied to shows like
"Friends" or even cartoon shows like
"Rugrats."
Commercial I Spy Bingo
- To keep users involved during commercial breaks
on shows, we came up with a new activity--a cross
between the kid's road trip game of "I Spy"
and the boardroom/business game of "Buzz
Word Bingo." We call it Commercial I Spy
Bingo. We generate digital Bingo cards with various
possible images that a user might see during a
commercial break. The goal is to spot the images
(objects, animals, products, etc.) and get the
typical Bingo combinations. The game could even
be sponsored so you're trying to spot the Budweiser
chameleons or the Nike logo.
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