Insights, Challenges and Oppurtunities
A web intervention for those addicted to streaming
Screens and electronic devices are a great distraction in our daily lives, which is very difficult to deal with since we use these devices for practically everything. One of the most widely used digital platforms currently is Twitch. Twitch users can watch what they love, connect with streamers and engage with tons of communities.
Insights, Challenges and Oppurtunities
Through an an investigation on the use of Twitch in users aged 16 to 28 (most of them men) two user types were identified: the first is the person who interacts with Twitch for social interaction; the other type uses Twitch for “background noise” to be able to do their homework.
Hypotheses
Final Opportunity Statement
Switch Twitch is for the second type. This user normally has a second screen to view the stream while they perform their task. But, even if they intended to use twitch as “background noise”, they end up being distracted. More often than not, what they have to do against the backdrop of a highly entertaining stream is a focused task with a vague reward, like homework. This ends up with the user being unable to clearly focus with intent on the task that they set for themselves.
Wireframe Prototype
Switch-Twitch is a browser extension that helps twitch users to reduce the distractions in the screen and help them use Twitch only as a background noise tool. This extension transforms Twitch into a low-stimulus zone by reducing the tab brightness, dimming the audio levels, and hiding both the chat and video. This turns twitch into a more ambient podcast experience than an active viewing experience.
The settings resulted in greater concentration on the part of the user and reduced the time it would normally have taken them to perform the task they were doing.