Design for TV
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TV is all about content. It's about finding and enjoying the things
you love to watch, whether it's movies, shows, games, music, or fitness
videos. And it's about doing it with the least amount of friction possible.
Great TV design is all about putting content front and center. It's about
creating an interface that's easeir to use and navigate, even from a distance.
It's about making it easeir to find the content you love, and to enjoy it
in the best possible quality.
Considerations
10ft UI
Typically, viewers lean back and relax while watching TV and the
average distance between a TV and its viewers is 3 meters (10 feet).
Complex screens layouts and controls are not ideal for such leanback
experiences. As such, it is important to make sure that text and other
elements are large enough to be seen from a distance or limit the
amount of text and reading on TV screens.
D-pad navigation
Unlike touch devices most TVs rely on d-pad (up, down, left, right, select
buttons on the remote) to navigate the UI. TV UI must provide instant
and distinct feedback when buttons are pressed.
TV is a communal device
TV is typically a shared device in the household. This means that it is
important to consider privacy when designing apps for TV. For example,
apps that show personal information should have privacy settings that
allow relevant customizations.
Content and code samples on this page are subject to the licenses described in the Content License. Java and OpenJDK are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2023-05-08 UTC.
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