Second screen applications and tablet users: constellation, awareness, experience, and interest

This study investigates how tablet users incorporate multiple media in their television viewing experience. Three patterns are found: (a) only focusing on television, (b) confounding television viewing with other screen media (e.g. laptop, tablet) and (c) confounding television viewing with various media, including print and screen media. Furthermore, we question how the incorporation of screen media in this experience affects the practice of engaging in digital commentary on television content. Also, we inquire the uptake and interest in so-called 'second screen applications'. These applications allow extensions of the primary screen experience on secondary screens (e.g. tablet). The results, based on a sample of 260 tablet users, indicate that there is only a modest uptake and interest in using secondary screens to digitally share opinions. However, the use of second screen interaction with television content is not discarded: although there is still little awareness and experience, we notice a moderate interest in these apps.