SAP DESIGN GUILD

Universal Remote Console

By Gerd Waloszek, SAP User Experience, SAP AG – 06/07/2005 • Original article

 

The Basic Idea

The idea of a universal remote console (URC) may not sound very spectacular, but it promises to change the way that many people will access technical devices in the future. Today, we already use wireless communication technologies to remotely control devices and services from other devices. For example, you can control a TV set using an infrared remote control. The problem is, though, that there is no standard available today for controlling target devices from any other device, such as a personal remote control. Such a standard would include devices across different manufacturers and, according to the promoters of the URC concept, could facilitate usability, natural language agents, internationalization, and accessibility.

In short, the basic idea behind the URC is to define a universal protocol (called Alternative Interface Access Protocol = AIAP) that enables any device to command any other device via remote signals.

The URC approach is especially promising for disabled and elderly people because it will allow them to control devices using personal devices, which fit to their strengths, weaknesses, and disabilities. It also brings also hope to all the many people who have problems with programming video recorders, using copier machines, or using "intelligent" microwave ovens. With a URC, people will be able to use devices of their choice – devices that they understand and can handle – as remote control for other devices.

 

URC SIG, Definition of a URC, Standardization

URC SIG, a special interest group that was established in order to push forward the URC concept and the definition of a protocol standard, defines a Universal Remote Console (URC) as:

The promoters of the URC concept distinguish between the URC platform and possible target devices to be controlled:

Thus, the URC concept comprises a combination of (1) personal, standard hardware, such as PDAs or game consoles, (2) software that runs on these platforms, and (3) newly to-be-developed, compliant target devices.

Standardization

As the universal protocol (AIAP) has to be adopted by a wide range of industries, a standardization process is needed. The efforts to standardize the AIAP are driven by the URC SIG. The National Committee for Information Technology Standards (NCITS; www.ncits.org) has established a technical committee called V2 for working on a universal remote console specification as an essential part of a to-be-developed Alternate Interface Access standard (Alternative Interface Access Protocol = AIAP). The proposals for these standards can be found in the draft state on NCITS' V2 homepage. The latest draft version is dated 2005, which shows that the standardization process is still ongoing.

 

Practical Examples, Prototypes, and Demonstrations

As an example, a blind person could use a refreshable Braille display as a remote control for a TV set, video recorder, or intelligent kitchen device. Sighted people could program their PDAs or game controllers for this purpose.

Prototyping

Pocket PC with prototype     

The Interactive Media Technology Center at the Georgia Centers for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT) has developed a prototype URC application. The prototypical URC software allows a user to remotely control a compliant target device through a user interface on a Pocket PC handheld computer. The UI on the Pocket PC can be adapted to meet the user's needs and preferences. Such preferences may include the user's native language, the interface complexity that the user can cope with, or an icon-based UI for users who cannot read. One interesting aspect of the prototype is its ability to download resources from the target device or from the Internet in order to support the user's preferences.

As an example, the user can use this prototype to control a compliant target device, such as the WinAmp Media Player on a desktop computer. The Pocket PC receives information from the target device, such as the available functions. In the case of a media player, these may include play, stop, next track, previous track, volume, position, duration, and song information. The URC then uses this information to build a virtual remote control and the corresponding user interface that best fits the user's needs.

Demonstration

At the CHI 2002 conference, Gottfried Zimmerman and Gregg Vanderheiden of the University of Wisconsin's Madison-based Trace R&D Center in the United States, gave a convincing short demo of the principle of the URC. However, they could not answer the question of when the industry will adopt this idea and offer devices that use the universal protocol (AIAP). A look at URC-related Websites today still does not answer this question.

 

Outlook and Conclusions

The concept of a universal remote control and the demonstrations and prototypes look promising, especially with respect to their ability to support elderly and disabled people. Currently, however, there seems to be little progress to be made with respect to the standardization efforts – the process is still underway. In addition, the question of whether and when the industry will adopt this idea and offer platforms and target devices that use the universal protocol (AIAP) remains open.

By the way, have you read Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox on "Remote Control Anarchy?" Nielsen writes that he needs six (!) different remote controls to watch a movie on his home theater. A single universal remote console programmed to accomplish this task would have made his experience much more relaxing.

 

References

Please note that we cannot guarantee that the links below will work in the future.

Universal Remote Console

Trace Center (University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wisconsin, United States)

Sidetrack ...

 

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