A) Description of proposed application: The proposed application for BBC Fiction users would be a user-influenced, behind-the-scenes look at the various shows currently being produced, with focus on ongoings of the show production and people during the off-seasons. The app would not only give information about what the cast and crew are up to via blogs and videos, but also have character extras (blogs set up not unlike those for the cast/crew/show in general). The users would have the opportunity for interaction with the cast/crew, by being able to comment/leave questions in a form similar to that of Twitter. Users can also gain points by interacting with the application – leaving comments, viewing submitted photos, interacting with the cast/crew during live ‘Twitter’ sessions, which can be used to gain access to new information about the characters/crew/show that isn’t available elsewhere.
B) Specifications:
i. The main point of the application would be the blogs. The blogs would be separated first by show, then by whether it’s a blog for the cast/crew or a character. Individual blogs would be shown on that page.
Main page --> show page (which would have a basic synopsis of the show as well as a link to videos from the current season in iTunes if applicable) --> cast/crew
Or
Main page --> show page --> characters --> individual character
ii. A bottom panel will have a home button, a favorites button, a ‘post a question’ button, an account button, and a ‘back’ button (to return to previous page).
Home button = returns to main page, which hosts the list of shows
Favorites button = list of blogs favorited, separated by show (there will be a button allowing to save individual blogs to this list)
‘Post a Question’ button = Ability to ask a question/send a video/picture to cast/crew blogs.
Account button = has account information, which would be needed to store favorites/ask questions. Also on the account button would be storage of what points have been earned and what extra content has been unlocked.
Back button = returns to previous level in app hierarchy – if on a character blog, if pressed will return user to list of character blogs.
C) User Scenario:
Betty was recently introduced to BBC drama shows. She just finished the last episode of the most recent season of Sherlock. She is so happy with the show, and is anxious for the next season to start. However, she just found out the next season is not for another ten months. How is she going to keep herself occupied and continue to keep herself interested in the show during those months?
Betty voices her concerns to her friend, Sam. Sam tells her not to worry, because there is an awesome application out on the market! This application (mine) has the ability to keep fans entertained and updated on the workings of some favorite shows!
Sam walks Betty through the application by starting on the home page, which lists every current show (by which I mean the shows still being produced and not just syndicated) in alphabetical order. Sam has Betty click on the ‘Sherlock’ tab.
The Sherlock tab brings them to a home page for the show. The home page has interesting things on its own: a basic synopsis for the show, facts from the most current season, a countdown for the next episode (if applicable), and a button to redirect to iTunes for episodes (if applicable). At the bottom of the show page, there is a tab for blogs. Interested, Betty clicks on that.
The tab brings Betty and Sam to another page, which has two options: cast/crew and characters. Even more intrigued, Betty clicks on the former tab (cast/crew). The cast/crew tab brings the two friends to a blog, recently updated. The blog is similar to that of the mobile version of Tumblr (not the app). The blog shows pictures of the set, cast/crew answers to user-generated questions, updates on what the cast/crew/show is up to, and videos of antics (see Michael Weatherly’s Twitter feed for examples of that - https://twitter.com/#!/M_Weatherly). Betty observes that the blog is updated at a regular basis (most likely weekly at the least, with updates by cast/crew as much as they want to past that).
Sam presses the back button located on the bottom panel, and clicks the character tab. Betty is excited to find blogs from the characters as well, updated on a semi-regular basis (depending on the scenarios).
Just before leaving the application, Betty notices that the Sherlock home page has news that a live Twitter session with the producers will be occurring, with interaction with the application, and users are encouraged to submit their questions. Betty submits a question, and a notification pops up that Betty has unlocked new content, which is available in her account tab.
After Betty watches the live feed for a while, Betty goes over to her account tab to see this new content. To her happiness, it is a behind-the-scenes video of the pre-production happening for the next season of Sherlock. Betty leaves the application, sated with her new knowledge of Sherlock.
