The Commentator Information System: Understanding Journalists’ Needs to Overcome Cognitive Load and Navigation Issues
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Marie-Anne Midy for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science presented on October 1, 2007. Title: The Commentator Information System: Understanding Journalists’ needs to Overcome Cognitive Load and Navigation Issues. Abstract approved: ______________________________________________________ Carlos Jensen Nowadays, sports events are a significant part of the every-day entertainment with local, national, and international championships. A lot of money is invested by broadcasting companies to attract new and more viewers, acquire broadcasting rights, or send entire crews on site to cover such events. Journalists are among the few who go on site. To perform their job and make appealing live commentaries, journalists need a lot of information about athletes, past and live results, records, etc. The Commentator Information System (CIS) is the on-site tool used by journalists for these purposes, and made available by the organizers. The CIS is an LCD touch-screen device that allows users to retrieve sports data by selecting specific buttons on the interface: final or heat results, intermediate times, weather conditions, medal standings, etc. There is one CIS per event; hence the system can cover dozens of different disciplines (e.g. during the Olympic Games) at the same time. There has been research conducted on how to improve TV and online viewers’ experience during sports events but nothing, as of today, about improving journalists’ work environment. Moreover, their work conditions are very stressful; if they make mistakes in their statements, it can have negative consequences on their career. Thus, the CIS has to be reliable from both a system and usability perspective.
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