At the London Brightcove Developer Group last night, we were fortunate enough to see a presentation by Martin Webb, Technology Manager for Multimedia at Symbian. While showing a largely non-technical deck (which was refreshing from such an obvious technical supremo), Martin explored the classic lean forward/sit back paradigm of user interaction and how this relates to the mobile platform. His essential conclusion was that the mobile experience can be both lean forward and sit back depending on mode of use – in other words that the mobile platform is a more ubiquitous space than either the personal computer or television which both tend to live on opposite ends of the lean forward-sit back axis.

Interestingly enough, in figures published by the BBC relating to usage of the BBC iPlayer (in which the iPhone accounted for 7% of all iPlayer video views in October 2009), it appears that mobile usage of the service peaks around 9pm in the week and again on weekend mornings. As these are likely to be classic ‘chill’ times for a market segment largely made up of urbane young professionals, the sit back mode is very much in evidence. This is much in contrast to the mode of interaction so oft observed of iPhone-wielding members of the same market segment commuting to and from the place of work. As Martin pointed out in his talk, in this situation the iPhone appears to fulfill the role that handheld game consoles do for many teens – heads down, digits furiously jabbing (or stroking in the iPhone’s case) – most definitely lean forward!

Although it’s still relatively early days for mobile platform adoption, the high-spec mobile device purchasing model of fixed term contract with the latest applications coming pre-installed is markedly different from either tv or pc purchasing models. Thus we are likely to witness faster rates of adoption and usage of mobile devices equipped to fulfill our every requirement, whereever that may fall between sit back and lean forward.

Tags: adoption, interaction, mobile, platform