[IxDA Discuss] LCD remote control design

[Dan Brown]

Remote controls have a fundamental problem: they require users to look away
from the appliance. As appliances grow more complex, with elaborate menu
systems, it becomes difficult for me to gauge feedback if I have to look
away from the appliance's screen every time.

Touch screens will, I fear, make the situation worse. With no tactile
feedback on button size and position (already difficult with today's
remotes), users will be glancing back and forth even more!

So, I designed this "no-look remote" to address this difficult. It is,
essentially, a hand-held mouse with an infrared emitter (or whatever
technology is used to communicate between two devices). It depends on a more
complex menu system built into the appliance, but the simple gestures
permitted by the remote make it somewhat universal.

I put this in portfolio as an attempt to break into interactive television
several years ago...

http://greenonions.com/portfolio/personal_remote.pdf

-- Dan

On 9/25/07, W Evans <wkevans4 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Preeti,
> It would be irresponsible to cast judgment on the specific usability of
> the
> devices without playing with them.
>
> "But from a usability point of view, is a touchscreen remote control
> good?"
>
> To that the answer is easy - It Depends. Actually, it's the wrong question
> to ask. It would be like saying "from a usability point of view, is a
> mouse
> good?" Touchscreen remotes are just one type of input device for user
> interaction and is neither usable nor unusable because it's the entire
> experience - the touchscreen remote, it's interface, labels, navigation,
> directed task flows - the whole enchillada that counts - and only after
> reviewing the entirety of the user experience could you make a judgement -
> and even that would in most cases not be black and white but some
> distribution around a mean based on alot of observation.
>
> That said - I love this little gem of marketing horsebiscuit on the
> Bang-Olufsen website:
> "The square glass display with soft touch keys and the aluminum ball with
> tactile keys and a volume wheel are inspired by contradictions - the
> circle
> and the square, giving Beo 5 an unusual visual expression."
>
> Um - NO. Sorry marketing tweebster - a square and circle are not
> contradictory. Here $5 kid - enroll in an intro to logic class.
>
>
>
> --
> ~ will
>
> See you at IxDA Interaction 08 | Savannah <http://interaction08.ixda.org/>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> will evans
> user experience architect
> wkevans4 at gmail.com
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
> On 9/25/07, PREETI SALUJA <preeti.saluja at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all!
> > I was just browing through some new designs of remote controls having
> LCD
> > screens.
> > http://www.bang-olufsen.com/page.asp?id=365&bhcp=1
> >
> >
> http://www.igadget.com.au/catalog/touch-screen-universal-remote-control-with-backlight-p-703.html
> > http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/logitech-harmony-670-1085.shtml
> > https://futurehomesystems.com/pbtsu7000.shtml
> >
> > Most of these links talk of converging devices (mobile phones, PCs and
> > remote controls)
> > and RF remote controls, which can be operated even when the user is not
> > infront of the HDTV
> > But from usability point of view, is a touchscreen remote control ,good?
> > Are we just adding more and more functions and making it far
> > more complicated and intimidating for the user?
> > I would like to hear from all the members in this group regarding deisgn
> > of
> > future remote controls and remote controls with LCD
> screens/touchscreens.
> > Please participate.
> > Thanks and regards,
> > Preeti
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> > To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> > List Guidelines ............ http://beta.ixda.org/guidelines
> > List Help .................. http://beta.ixda.org/help
> > Unsubscribe ................ http://beta.ixda.org/unsubscribe
> > Questions .................. list at ixda.org
> > Home ....................... http://beta.ixda.org
> >
> ________________________________________________________________
> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> List Guidelines ............ http://beta.ixda.org/guidelines
> List Help .................. http://beta.ixda.org/help
> Unsubscribe ................ http://beta.ixda.org/unsubscribe
> Questions .................. list at ixda.org
> Home ....................... http://beta.ixda.org
>



-- 
} work: eightshapes.com
} book: communicatingdesign.com
} blog: greenonions.com
} talk: +1 (301) 801-4850