[IxDA Discuss] LCD remote control design

[Shaun Bergmann]

On 9/25/07, PREETI SALUJA <preeti.saluja at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Are we just adding more and more functions and making it far
> more complicated and intimidating for the user?


As Will said, it completely depends. The higher end models available in
touchscreen remotes are basically shipped as a blank slate, and absolutely
everything from the creation of the basic graphical layout through to the
logical hierarchy of the button presentation, ergonomic considerations, the
programmed AI of the 'back end' interaction of the display and how the
hardware you're controlling reacts is completely determined by the designer
/ programmer creating the remote.

The basic idea in these remotes is a good one: For people that have complex
theatre systems, gone should be the day when you sit down on your sofa, and
shuffle your way through 5 different remote controls sitting on your coffee
table to turn on the TV, the DVD, the receiver, change the input on the TV,
then do the same to the receiver...  you get the picture.  (Guests of mine,
to their embarrassment, could never quite figure out how to simply switch
from Xbox to TV with my 4 remote combination.)
So, having a single button on a single unit that says "Watch DVD' is
certainly not more complicated and intimidating for the user.

That being said, it's entirely possible (and unfortunately common) that the
programmer behind the design of the system hasn't had any real exposure to
something called HCI, and you end up with something almost entirely
unusable.  (I've heard of people that have had hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth of home automation panels installed in their houses, and then
never using 90% of the system due to it's complexity)  So if the remote is
complicated and intimidating, then somebody didn't do their job well.

Other than that, if the interface is completely touchscreen based with no
hard buttons at all, then yes -- you will be constantly having to look up at
the screen / down at your hand.  Without the tactile feel of the buttons,
the usability takes a bit of hit.

Ideally, with the larger displays that are now available, you would be able
to stream a wireless video signal to the remote itself and have it display
on the touchscreen.
Think of the menu display of a Tivo or other HD Cable box / Satellite
reciever
Rev 1 of this would just simplify your navigation (no looking up and down
while you are trying to set up a new recording on the PVR)
Rev 2 of this would remove most of the necessity of the navigation buttons
(up down left right enter) all together, as you would simply be touching the
selection displayed.

Well, that'd be in my perfect world, but we're not their yet.