Tablets replacing laptops as TV-watching companion, report says

Increasingly, tablet owners are using their mobile devices to complement their television-watching habits, according to an October 2011 report from market intelligence firm Strategy Analytics.

Many people do not simply sit down in front of the TV anymore. Instead, they tend to interact with several electronic devices simultaneously, browsing the web or checking email while also watching the World Series, the news or other programming.

Tablet computers, the study says, have "nearly completely replaced" the laptop as the preferred companion for TV watchers. Lightweight and with lower heat generation, the tablet is more comfortable and convenient to interact with while lounging on the couch or one's favorite recliner.

"Designers wishing to engage consumers while in the home/TV-watching environment should, therefore, focus on the tablet as the device with the greatest opportunity to provide a relevant, enhanced TV experience," says report author Caroline Park.

This trend has not gone unnoticed by software developers, some of whom are designing tablet applications to enhance the TV-watching experience. New apps have been introduced recently that allow tablet users to control settings on their TVs, as well as change channels, set recording schedules and order movies. As the technology develops, the relationship between tablets and TVs is likely to become more intertwined.