How Do Users Search with Basic HTML5 Video Players?

Claudiu Cobârzan, Klaus Schoeffmann

Abstract: When searching within a video for a specific scene most non-expert users employ a basic video player. The main advantage of such a player over more advanced retrieval tools lies in its ease of use and familiar controls and mode of operation. This means that the available navigation controls (play, fast forward, fast reverse, seeker-bar) will be used for interactive search and browsing. We compare the search behavior by type of interaction and speed of interactive search of two groups of users, each numbering 17 participants. Both groups performed the same tasks using an HTML5 video player but in different setups: the first group performed Known Item Search tasks, while the second performed Description Based Search tasks. The goal of this study is twofold. One: better understand the way users search with a basic video player, so that useful insights can be taken into consideration when designing professional video browsing and search tools. Two: evaluate the impact of the different setups (Known Item Search vs. Description Based Search tasks).