Here's a human-interface challenge for you: what's quicker, typing in a three-digit channel number on a traditional 0-9 keypad, or locating a physical button for that channel in a 20-inch long rainbow gradient of 102 identically-sized buttons?
Art Lebedev is apparently hoping to solve that age-old dilemma with the Pultius remote, a concept created in response to a challenge to "design a remote control with as many buttons as there are channels on TV." Since it's just a concept, there's no word on price or availability, but really, we've learned not to expect that sort of thing from Art Lebedev at this point.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tranzparentl @ Oct 5th 2007 9:15AM
OK well I hate to break it to this guy but there is already more than 102 channels. My Cable box goes up to 1999.
UnnDunn @ Oct 5th 2007 9:54AM
Why do we still have channel numbers?
Why, for that matter, do we still have channels?
Sure, television is still broadcast using discrete video streams multiplexed over different frequencies, but since they're digital, there's no reason why they have to be *presented* to the viewer that way.
Why can't I just navigate through a directory of available shows, pick the show I want, and have the box sort out the nitty gritty of what channel it's on or when it's showing, without even telling me?
Just tell the box "I want to watch Chuck" and the box figures out which channel it's on.. if the show is playing now, it switches to it, otherwise it schedules a recording or a reminder. I don't care whether Chuck is on NBC or ZZZ, I just want the damn show.
Is that too much to ask?
tai @ Oct 5th 2007 2:46PM
so what would you watch if "Chuck" wasn't on? How would you go about finding another show? Channels exsist to group shows into an organized list. You've described a new method of watching TV and I think it's great that it suits your need but I don't think that it would work for the masses. Shoot, most of us with DVR's don't even watch live television we live in our previously recorded shows. :-)
acidrock @ Oct 5th 2007 10:15AM
the gay pride flag?
tranzparentl @ Oct 5th 2007 10:21AM
I think it's supposed to look like those candy dots...
UnnDunn @ Oct 5th 2007 4:31PM
Obviously the mythical box that would do this would group shows into "Now Playing" and "Coming up later", so it would be easy to tell if a show is viewable now or not.
The point is I don't care about channels, I care about *shows*, and I suspect most TV viewers are the same. In an age of metadata giving us endlessly malleable information, why should TV be packaged into channels anymore? Makes no sense.
DarkRogue @ Oct 5th 2007 4:49PM
LOL I like that one acidrock. All too familiar living that close to San Francisco. Makes sense between Castro and Hippy Hill off of Haight. I wonder what the point of this remote is...
DarkRogue @ Oct 5th 2007 4:50PM
Actually, (sorry for the double post) is looks like button candy to me.
JBDragon @ Oct 7th 2007 12:04AM
I think I'll stick with my Logitech Harmony 1000. I have my Favorite Channel Icons Like CBS HD, SCIFI, ect. Pictured and just pick which one I want to go to quite easily. Most people only have certain channels they ever watch. You could have 1000 channels and ever only watch 20 of them. Why would I want a remote that most of the buttons on it I would never use? Rows of buttons and no Labels just seams really confusing. My Remote, anyone just pick it up and have no problem controlling my setup. Pretty self Explanatory. This Button Madness is Stupid at best. It will never see the light of day.
JeffDM @ Oct 7th 2007 2:32AM
I get the point on channels, but I don't think the set top box makers get the point, or it may be cable/sat and networks. They seem to avoid rocking the boat too much. The services & networks probably don't want it, so they'd probably veto it.
The networks are the ones that try to push bundling as much as possible. Frankly, I don't see why any ad-supported networks really need to be in upper tiers of cable systems. I do understand paying more for the channels that aren't ad-supported.
Robert Spies @ Oct 8th 2007 7:26AM
I modified my computer-TV program so it works as follows:
There are now two channel-select streams where the channels are
selected in the familiar way -- by entering the digits of the
channel number or by stepping up or down
Switching between the two channel-select streams is done with the
jump to previous channel button -- which now works differently --
as described above.
This is ideal for avoiduing commercials as it permits surfing
without losing the original channel.