Beyond-the-Screen Interface

This research develops the Beyond-Screen Interface (BSI), a novel display system for interactive television (ITV) that extends the physical space of the graphical user interface (GUI) using projectors. By utilizing the wall behind a TV set as a peripheral background screen, this project addresses the limitations of on-screen interfaces where complex information often interrupts viewer engagement and content immersion. The BSI creates a space-multiplexed UI with two distinctive GUI layers: a high-fidelity foreground screen for primary content and a projected peripheral background for navigation, widgets, and history. Quantitative and qualitative user evaluations indicate that BSI significantly enhances hedonic quality and overall attractiveness compared to traditional interfaces. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that this extended display area fosters a superior "lean-back" experience by maintaining user engagement with TV content while simultaneously providing unobtrusive access to interactive applications. The system also promotes a more "democratic" viewing experience for multiple users by making control processes visible on the peripheral space.