Testing and prototyping before mass production saves time, money and nerves. Since prototyping became my area of expertise, I was hired by an Austrian-based broadcast electronic company that had been producing remote controls since the early 70s. From that time on they have supplied some of the world’s most famous electronics manufacturers with their (OEM) products, but have also designed their own line of remote devices, caring about usability all the way.
One of their usability experts approached me and told me that a “16-devices-controlling-one-button-universal-remote-control” is being developed. The user interface was basically done, but the task was to create a testing platform, an interactive device simulator, that would be controlled by one magic coin button, that you could click on five places and rotate both ways.
Using the provided screen design it took me only four days to produce the first simulator.
We successfully simulated the situation of controlling five different devices and the logic behind using the device, but the most important part was the possibility to specify, for instance, the device behavior when your thumb turns the wheel clockwise; does the selection bar go up or down?
Yeah, I see you turning your thumb imagining the correct movement, but until at least seven people do it while using the simulator those assumptions don’t mean a thing 🙂
The device was produced eventually and it was one magnificent piece of gadgetry. Encased in a rubberized plastic body, it has a glass front resembling a lacquered piano with a polished silver button in the middle, crowned with a thin rubber ring for better grip. Check out the photos!
Oh yeah, it even has a small flap (or “the leg” as they call it) underneath so it’s easier for you to pick it up from the table 🙂
