Pikku Kakkonen + tablet = silent back seat

Pikku kakkonen is the number one TV brand for children in Finland. It's website has grown steadily for the past few years, currently being used by over 150.000 households each month. But the website is already five years old and is being updated. Technically the update will focus on Magicast, our interactive audiovisual content management technology, allowing a wider range of content possibilities.

Background: Magicast

Magicast (magic + broadcast) is technically an interactive audiovisual content scripting language and a player for it. It is built using Flash (ActionScript 3.0), which works in web, desktop (PC and Mac) and mobile/tablet (Android and iOS) devices. Magicast comes with best practices and tools that help develop different kinds of contents through common administrative and debugging interfaces. The Magicast way of handling content is essential in keeping gigabytes of audiovisual content files and thousands of lines of content scropt in order. Magicast is not tied to any specific content type, as it can be extended through custom Flash code.

This project is one of three Demola projects that work with Magicast this spring. The focus on the technology is strong, because Magicast is in the process of being open sourced. One aspect of the projects is to test Magicast, provide feedback and maybe help in writing Magicast Wiki.

Project description

Techincally Magicast already supports Andorid and iOS devices, but the content on Pikku kakkonen website will not automatically be suitable for mobile/tablet devices, because they require special design. This project explores how Pikku kakkonen could work in touch screens and limited devices. The idea is not to develop a casual game or any other traditional mobile application, but specifically to look at existing TV content and think how it could be made interactive. The ultimate goal is to discover the core differences between passive and active storytelling, especially what makes interaction fun.

Magicast has more than enough features to support rabid testing of interactive audiovisual storytelling. The team can utilize existing audiovisual material or work with Pikku kakkonen staff to create new. The team needs to test the ideas with children and come up with solutions that work. The concept of interactive audiovisual storytelling for children is really not yet defined, but after this project is finished, it will be.

Skill requirements

- ActionScript 3.0 helps in creating more complex concepts, but Magicast does not require coding

- Design skills: Interface design, graphic design, video editing, audio design

- Scriptwriting for Finnish children

- Basic understanding of children is always a plus

References

- Bofori, the first major Magicast project: http://yle.fi/bofori/ (registration required)

- Pikku kakkonen Demola project 2008: http://yle.fi/pikkukakkonen/#elainkarnevaalit

- Pikku kakkonen Demola project 2009: http://yle.fi/pikkukakkonen/#leimu

- Pikku kakkonen Demola project 2010: http://yle.fi/pikkukakkonen/#aikakone