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Panasonic EZ Touch Remote Features Dual-Touchpads, Simple But Effective Interface
Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 1:45 PM on October 3, 2008
Remote controls might not be the sexiest of gadgets to overhaul, but Panasonic's done a pretty neat job with this recent revamp. The company demoed a touch-sensitive remote at CEATEC, which features a touchpad on each end of the device and a crowd of buttons in the middle. Instead of using a touchscreen like many of its high-end ilk, the EZ Touch Remote superimposes an image of a traditional remote control on the television screen.
Users keep their eyes on the TV and have their finger motions tracked by an on-screen "virtual thumb." The remote can also sense left- or right-handed users and utilise multitouch data entry, zoom, and quick scroll. Effective and it won't scare away your less-than-technologically-adept grandmother. Unfortunately, Panasonic didn't give a release date for the gizmo or comment on whether it will ever be mass produced. [Engadget]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
addiktion
Posted 2:32 PM 3/10/08
Unless the remote can tell me when my shows have been done recording then it's no winner over a standard remote.
addiktion
fosho4
Posted 2:09 PM 3/10/08
I'm not sure how this is better than a regular remote...
fosho4
livinzlife
Posted 2:05 PM 3/10/08
eh...not sure i want a mega remote showing up on my screen while im watching stuff..I dont know about this idea.
livinzlife
RoboChop
Posted 2:42 PM 3/10/08
At first this seemed ridiculous and annoying but I bet it actually seems like a pretty great idea once you've used it. That is as long as the onscreen remote size and translucency are controllable. You have to look away from the TV for the more intricate remote entries anyway. So how is this much different from the HUD in a video game, the progress bars on DVRs or onscreen cable guides? When you channel up or down its not going to show on the screen. It might suck for whoever doesn't have the remote though.
RoboChop
RufusNoppity
Posted 2:38 PM 3/10/08
This is...wow. Bad bad bad. Awful. A. Who wants big superimposed images on the tv? That's just ugly, and would especially annoying when somebody else is controlling it. B. So, this remote's basically useless when the TV is off, making it useless for doing the other stuff many people use universal remotes for, such as controlling stereos or iPods or fans or lighting. C. Does this thing even have macro controls? The best thing about other fancy remotes is that they allow one-touch control of inputs and other settings. D. It's already pretty easy to use most decent remote controls without looking down -- that's why the buttons have different shapes and so forth. The only thing I see that makes this interesting is the multitouch zooming...but when exactly would that come in handy?
RufusNoppity
drewdoog
Posted 3:15 PM 3/10/08
Perhaps its my age, 28, but i find touchscreen devices mentally painful to use. Everything these days is going the touchscreen route, and no touchscreen will ever replace buttons.
with buttons, you can click on things without looking.. the key factor of universal remote designs.
next, if you need a giant remote picture on your tv to use your remote, then you are obviously too old to use a non tactical feedback remote.. FAIL
drewdoog
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 10:06 PM 3/10/08
@livinzlife: Yeah, you're jumping up b/c there is something important happening on TV, and then this remote appears to block it, or the dog puts it's nose on it and pops it up.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
GTgeek
Posted 12:46 AM 4/10/08
@RoboChop: I think the HUD comparison is pretty interesting, but as you said, it would be annoying for people who aren't holding the remote. Also, after a while of using a remote, you tend to know where the buttons are and don't have to look for simple things like volume up/down. I'm not certain from the picture, but I guess those buttons are in the center of this remote.
GTgeek
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 3:53 AM 4/10/08
@JEmlay: Well, to be fair, the volume up/down, volume up/down, and power are actual buttons on the remote in the middle.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
JEmlay
Posted 3:45 AM 4/10/08
Talk about a complete disconnect from the user and the remote. That would slow down anyone not to mention all the times I'm half asleep and fumble for the remote to find either the volume or power buttons. This would never work!
JEmlay
livinzlife
Posted 9:13 AM 4/10/08
im glad to see there is a continuation of agreement that this is an awful idea...i was really hoping I wasnt the only person who thinks this is just dumb
livinzlife
JEmlay
Posted 9:33 AM 4/10/08
@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->:
Fair enough.
JEmlay