Smart TV App Testing: What challenges we face while performing the same?

Challenges in Smart TV App Testing

Smart TV application testing consists of making sure that no functional, visual, textual, and usability issues remain in the given application. Testers should go through every section and feature of the application to make sure that the product works as expected.

However, there are some challenges which we face during testing of any Smart TV App Testing which is defined below:

Multiple devices, platforms and versions:                                                                                                                          

There are lots of combinations of the TV in case of OS, Screen size, Brand (service provider).It is crucial task for the QA cover maximum number of the combinations before releasing application.

QA can to assure about the quality guarantee after testing application on the target devices if it works well, it will work 100% on another device even if it’s from the same product family because the screen resolution, CPU, Memory, OS optimization, form factor and hardware could be different.

User interface:

The user interface of the TV application is totally different with comparing to other apps like Desktops browser or mobile devices. Therefore, the design created for other devices are not expected to work well on TV interface. Think about experience that you can bring to a group of people. A more complicated application is not necessarily a better application. The layout should be user-friendly with clear, easy to access features that are arranged in a convenient way.

·        The layout should be simple. Unnecessary screen levels must be removed. Going into different levels and getting out again must be easy and obvious.

·        Applications should not require a separate guide or a manual.

·        The most crucial factor when designing a TV application is to include clear and accurate navigation for user operations.

·        If navigation is ambiguous, users will feel confused and insecure. They are likely to close the application, and may never use it again.

·        In short, users should always know exactly where they are within an application. Move, Return, Enter, and other basic navigation functions must be clear. The users should be able to use the operations they want with these actions.

·        The control method must account for the control device, and an intuitive layout must be provided accordingly. In order to achieve this, the button names and icons on the remote control must match the actions that occur on the screen.

·        The movements that occur on the screen must be in the direction expected by the user. Overall, there must be a consistency in movement specifications.

·        Consistency is closely related to improvements in usability and learnability. When using a new application, experience with a similar application will ensure fast learning.

·        It's not always possible to use the same UI for every application, because each application has unique traits. Ensuring the consistency of the components detailed below, however, enables users to become familiar with common controls, and to use applications more easily.

User interaction:

For the TV applications, interaction should be as simple as it can be. Navigation is the key for TV apps.

Interaction through remote different from mouse or the mobile keyboard

Automation is required but not feasible:

Verify less availability of the automation testing tools. Not feasible to cover to complete test coverage even single sanity or regression. No generic testing framework.

Network conditions:

App behavior can be affected by the changes in the network conditions such as:

WIFI, 2G/3G/4G, LAN / Without Network connection. This required addition testing to ensure application behavior with different network connection.

Remote handling is difficult and lengthy and time consuming:

Remote control is the first native control of television. It has been used since the 1960s. Instead of using the television button, the remote control was introduced so that people could change the channels just by sitting on the couch.

A remote control with wires was introduced in the beginning but nowadays wireless remote controls are found. Another new feature is that TVs does not have buttons anymore, and remote controls are used to interact with TV.

In some of the Smart TV’s like Samsung, LG Roku remote handling is tough and time consuming. Using remote as an input source is difficult as well as time consuming let’s if user want to enter text or longer description or search by using remote it take so much of time.

Focus:

As there is no cursor in the TV application the interaction is fully based on the focus model. By pressing button and swiping user can moves their focus from element to element. We have to verify throughout the application how element looks when they are focused. Focus loss is common issue in the TV applications during screen navigation forward /backward.

Performance:

Great TV application required great performance and great user experience. If it takes long to work, user may think it’s crashing or broken and can delete it anyway.

User environment for Smart TV:

Samsung Smart TV provides a user experience that differs completely from that of other familiar devices, such as mobile devices and desktop computers. Users will experience something new while using their TVs.

·        The average distance between a TV and its viewers should be 3 meters (10ft).

• Navigation must be possible using only the following controls: Four-direction navigation, focus selection, return, and exit application.
• Since the application is used at a distance, the control feedback must be instant and distinct.
• Situations when more than one person is using the device must be taken into account.
• For applications that may show personal information, precautionary privacy measures must be provided.