This thesis contains a usability evaluation of “Barnplay”, a Swedish video-on-demand service targeted at children. The objective of the study was to identify usability issues in the video service and to develop measures on improving the user interface, with special focus on adaptation to the broad target group of 3-11 year olds. The study was conducted by first mapping established practices in designs of VOD-services targeted at children, followed by interviews and usability tests with children between 2-11 concerning their use of “Barnplay”. Based on the initial data collection, a prototype was developed and then evaluated by usability testing and A/B-testing. The main conclusion of the study is the need of better individual adjustment of the video content selection to better appeal to different age segments within the target group. A design proposal, for a list of personal viewing history, was produced for displaying what the user recently had watched. / Detta examensarbete är en användbarhetsutvärdering av SVTs barnanpassade videotjänst, Barnplay. Arbetets mål är att identifiera användbarhetsproblem i videotjänsten och att ta fram åtgärder för att förbättra användargränssnittet, med särskilt fokus på anpassning till den breda målgruppen 3-11 år. Studien utfördes genom kartläggning av praxis vid design av VOD-tjänster riktade till barn, intervjuer och tester med barn mellan 2-11år kring deras användande av Barnplay. Utifrån den inledande datainsamlingen utarbetades en prototyp som utvärderades med användningstest samt A/B-test. Den viktigaste slutsatsen i studien var behovet av individuell anpassning av utbudet i videotjänsten för att bättre tilltala de olika ålderssegmenten inom målgruppen. Designförslaget som togs fram var en personlig historik-lista som visar de senast “tittade” titlarna.

The media landscape is changing and Internet-based streaming services for children are becoming increasingly popular. The concept of online streaming extends freedom and control over content selection but discovering new content is often experienced as troublesome. The objective of this thesis is to identify parameters to make it easier for users of streaming services for children to discover and watch unfamiliar programs. Guidelines are formed based on literature studies, interviews, observations, a survey, a benchmark, data analysis with Adobe Analytics, a workshop and finally user tests with prototypes. These guidelines conclude that content should be categorized, dynamicized, highlighted and socially engaging. Categorization based on age is primarily important but interests and genres can also be used to make children more interested in a title. Content should be dynamic, customizable and personal to each user to give more accurate recommendations based on age and interests. Making one alternative more visually prominent will make this alternative more interesting especially for younger children and social features with information about other users opinions can motivate a decision to discover new content among older children.