Developers
Users bring a specific set of expectations when watching TV, versus interacting with a phone or tablet. The Android User Experience Team has developed the following guidelines for creation of the Android TV platform and the apps that run on it.
Casual Consumption
The TV is an entertainment interface, not a computer or mobile device. Optimize for activities that put content at the center: from the casual posture of movie-watching, to immersive gameplay, to hanging out with friends in a living room.
Users expect immediate access to content when they turn on a TV. Get users into the action fast, be it the big game, their favorite show, or a game with friends. The next piece of content to watch or play should only be a click or two away.
Cinematic Experience
Create immersive experiences for the user. Design for as little user interface and as much content as possible on each screen. Use visual imagery, movement, and sound to inform and delight users. Avoid using on-screen text to convey information and purpose. Tell your story with pictures and sound.
Simplicity
Android TV is simple and magical. It’s all about finding and enjoying content and apps with the least amount of friction. Minimize the number of navigation steps required to perform actions. Build apps with the fewest screens possible between app entry and content immersion. Avoid making users enter text whenever possible, and use voice interfaces when you require text input.