| Remote
Control System |
A well-designed, well-implemented control system makes even the most
sophisticated equipment a pleasure to operate.
Imagine pressing "Play DVD Movie". Watch the equipment turn
on. Notice that the VCR, which you're not using, stayed off. Lights
flicker on the equipment as the control system selects the right inputs
and sets the right modes. Hear the volume adjust to your preferred
listening level. The curtains dramatically open, revealing your screen.
The light-tight blinds descend over the windows as the room lights
slowly dim. The movie begins.
But a great control system requires much more than just the automation.
A talented system designer carefully considers what functions need
automating and how those functions should best be provided.
The design of a true high-end control system requires significant
experience in software user interface design and ergonomics. For example,
buttons should be grouped logically by function. Similar functions
should be provided in a consistent location on each screen. The use
of functional modes should usually (but not always) be avoided. Colors
should be chosen carefully, with an eye toward the meaning. We have
on staff a professional software engineer and designer.
Often a poorly-designed control system frustrates its user because
it affords too much control. Like a car stereo with a million tiny
buttons, providing control over unused options will hamper daily use.
We use the "houseguest" criterion. Could guests in your
home pick up your remote control and listen to music or watch a movie?
Could they do it without any instruction?
Even a simple control system with keypads in the wall can be tricky.
Does "Volume Up" raise the volume in just this room, or
does it change the whole house? The right answer depends upon your
lifestyle and the layout of the rooms in your home. Did pressing "Radio"
affect every room? What if mom is snoozing in the Master Bedroom?
We strive to design control systems that are:
• Completely reliable,
• Automation of all the necessary functions (no more, no less),
• Convenient to use,
• Carefully designed around your lifestyle,
• Logical and easy to understand ("houseguest" criterion),
and
• Harmoniously designed and pleasing to operate
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