Richard Wages, Carmen Mac Williams, Barbara Ostermann

Identification of Dramaturgical Principles

Abstract: The design of interactive television is a new and challenging task. Beside the very hardware which has yet to be developed for the realisation of interactive television, design patterns have to be found to create adequate and compelling content. The transition from conventional television to interactive television can roughly be compared to the transition from monologue to dialogue, a fundamental step which has been tried in other art forms too, for example epic theatre. In this survey we address some of the problems that arise by bringing interactivity to television. Necessary underlying structures are being investigated. We give examples of solutions that have been found for certain problems in other kinds of digital media – namely the domain of computer games. Finally, suggestions are made on how to create content for interactive television in particular.