Area Control System
Fabric could be attached to a small portable board, like a remote. It could be wall mountable, or portable. On the actual device, it would hold a series of Pins that would control different functions. This would control a variety of domestic and entertainment appliances. Different buttons could be assigned to one function only, i.e. one pin would start playback of DVDs, others for other devices. However, this means different chips would need to be nearby to store or retrieve.
Alternatively, profile chips could be used to share the functions of “media control”. So, if one profile chip is in, the controls would rewind and play DVDS. If another is plugged in and the previous one removed, it would control a Hi Fi. Buttons could be used to schedule tasks and events, i.e. play DVD, then play CD player, then open satellite, etc. They could also double up as track number selection, or temperature input.
PACT Analysis
People: Aimed at anyone in a home environment wanting control function. Aimed at adults, but easily usable by kids/teenagers. Restricted to more technologically confident, the elderly may not find it appealing.
Activities: Main activities are controlling various appliances and systems. For entertainment control, volume bars would be assigned to potentiometers and media control functions to individual buttons could be play, pause, rewind etc. There are also environmental control functions, for example, environmental control would have a potentiometer to dim the lights, and a slider bar to control the AC Climate control for a given room.
Contexts: For use in indoor settings, such as living/bedrooms, halls, or warehouse. Benefit comes in where remote controls wont work in range, or area is large and expansive. Single user interaction at a time, no collaboration essential to functioning. Would be suitable for business/personal/entertainment settings if there was someone in “control of remote”.
Technology: The control system would need a hub or cradle/connection to a central controlling computer, or a wireless antenna to communicate. The control box would need to control the various appliances directly or wirelessly (Bluetooth/IR). The TUI would serve as the input and the appliances would serve as the output. However, confirmation of input could be provided from L.E.D.s displaying levels (e.g. Temperature levels in centigrade).