Vualla – A Social TV Experience Wrapped Up in an App

Marla Shaivitz January 8, 2011 Tweet

Think back to the last time you watched a big event on TV – last year’s Super Bowl, or maybe the last episode of Lost. If you had your laptop or phone in front of you, you probably were chatting online or texting about it while you watched.

Now it’s a year later, and you may have an iPad. And now there is Vualla, the ‘Social TV Companion’ app that  integrates that social experience with the television programming lineup for the next two weeks. Sort of like an interactive, digital TV Guide that you don’t throw away or leave in the bathroom.

Vualla Inc. is a brand-new venture out of San Francisco.  Their iPad application provides in depth information about each show, including live Twitter feeds, Facebook fan pages, YouTube videos, games, trivia about the program and its actors. You can share information from the app with their friends via Twitter, Facebook and the Vualla community. By participating in the community, you can earn points and badges which can be redeemed for “virtual and real world swag”.  The interface is customizable, with the ability to tag favorite channels in a special section. The searchable guide also offers suggestions for new shows to watch. Since the major social networks are integrated, you can weigh what the crowd thinks of a show before making the decision to watch it.

Special sections geared towards special events like the Super Bowl, the Oscars, etc. are planned. Detailed and historical information about the event will be served up, and you can vote on the commercials and participate in games and polls.

As a bonus, there is a built-in Universal Remote Control, so you can change the channel or the volume right from the iPad.

Vualla was a runner up for the Tech Cocktail Innovation Showcase at the CES Tweetup last night at the Space Quest Lounge, Las Vegas Hilton.