Personal Selection
The design tool I chose was the television remote control . The remote control is heavily used in todays society. The remote allows all people to operate the television from a distance. Today finding your favorite channel, and blasting your volume on high can be done in no time at all, but it wasn't always so user friendly.
History
In 1950 Zenith Radio Corporation distributed the first ever television remote with Eugene Polley being the inventor. The remote was called “Lazy Bones” simply because the act of not wanting to leave the couch to operate the television was a lazy act. The remote began as a bulky object with only four functions; channel/volume going up or down. The first television remote also only granted the user control of the television from a limited distance. The remote was attached to a cord that connected to the TV itself. The first wireless TV remote was created in 1955 and was referred to as the “flashmatic”. Although the removal of the wire was greatly appreciated, the function of the remote still struggled with usability during harsh weather. Fortunately, today the remote has been enhanced to fulfill the average individual.
Function
The television remote allowed the user to operate a device wirelessly from a distance. It was known as a convenient feature for the user that allowed operation of devices out of convenient reach. The remote functioned as a small, handheld object with an array of buttons for adjusting various settings such as channel, volume, and track number.
Materials
The Remote was constructed of plastics, silicon, solder, chemical coatings, computer chips and fluorescent.
Affordance
The visual form of the remote control today provides a very obvious and non-verbal explanation of how to use it. The shape alone provides the user with a sense that it is meant to be held by hand. The remote provides a shape with an easy and comfortable grip. The remote buttons contain arrows, abbreviations, and icons that are easily and quickly understood by today’s generation.
