A: Is everyone ready to start ?
B: Yeah . D: Yes .
C: Yeah .
A: Okay . Great .
A: Well , welcome to the third meeting of conceptual design .
A: I'll just get the PowerPoint presentation up and running .
A: Okay . Um ,
A: on the agenda for this , um , for this particular meeting , we'll have your three presentations on what you've done since our last meeting , after we came up with um some general ideas of our design .
A: And , um , then we have to make some key decisions on , on our remote control concept , and how we're gonna make it , what uh materials we're gonna use , and that sort of thing .
B: A: The meeting will be forty minutes long .
B: Okay .
A: And um we will once again have Poppy as our first presenter .
B: B: Okay .
A: Alright , and I will switch up PowerPoint .
B: Thank you .
A: Okay .
B: Should be just loading . B: Okay .
B: Oh ,
B: although I can't see it on my screen .
B: That says go here .
B: Okay .
B: I've been doing some research into the different components that we could use , um what's available to us f to actually make the remote control .
B: Um , first of all we have to look at how the remote control is actually made ,
B: and what is it happens inside the casing , which is more your field .
B: Um , thes main internal feature is a circuit board , which contains all the elec electronics and also the contacts with the power source .
D: B: Which is not necessarily a battery , as we're about to see .
B: Um , there are several components of , um , the circuit board that we need to consider , where we'll be getting them from , what they'll be made of .
B: Um , including the integrated circuit , which is also known as the chip .
B: Which is where all the main information is uh contained .
B: Um , diodes , transistors , resonators , resistors , and capacit capacitors all need to be considered as well .
B: Um , and all their positioning in the circuit .
A: Um A: Are they all included , like mandatorily , or r are these different options ?
B: Uh , these ,
B: they're all different options ,
B: they're all separate , apart from the chip , which we will probable decide whether we buy a simple , a regular , advanced .
A: Yeah .
B: We can go into that later .
B: Um , all the other things are individual components that we'd have to get in separately ,
B: and work out the most , like , effective um circuit , including all the wires and everything like that .
B: And the L_E_D_ of course , that's a light emitting diode .
B: So , we could ,
B: so we've got flex flexibility with colours and things , with that as well .
A: Mm .
B: Okay , there are lots of different possibilities for the energy source .
B: We could use a basic battery ,
B: but that brings with it , like they need to be recharged and the bulk , the size of it as well .
B: And they're not so great to dispose of , environmentally .
B: There's a hand-powered dynamo which is a sort of thing that was used for torches fifty years ago .
B: A bit out of date .
B: Kinetic energy is something that's been recently developed .
A: Um A: What is a hand-powered dynamo ?
B: Um , where you manually charge up the power .
B: Like you wind up something .
A: Just every , every once in a while ?
B: Sorry ?
A: Just every once in a while or constantly ?
B: Yeah . Every once in a while I think
B: . But it's A: Alright .
A: It'd be kind of strange to always be cranking it I think .
C: Yeah .
B: Yeah .
B: It would be like going a step back in time .
B: I don't think it would really be with kind of cutting edge technology .
A: No . D: B: Whereas kinetic energy is a new idea that's being used by some watches and other devices , where you just shake the device and it gives it power .
B: I mean , the kinetic energy is transformed into power to make the circuit work .
B: Um , or there's solar power ,
B: which we've been considering inside a building , which is where it's gonna be used , might not be quite so useful .
A: Right .
B: But , good to look into ,
B: renewable energy , always the way .
B: Um , lots of considerations for the case , like what sort of shape it would be , curved or flat .
B: That's got a lot to do with the ergonomics .
B: Like how it's comfortable and s sits in the hand .
B: We don't want something that's huge and you can't pick up .
B: Or too small .
B: Or too slidy .
B: I know I've had a remote control before which you couldn't tell which was the front and the back ,
C: B: 'cause it had so many buttons on , and the shape was so symmetrical that I'd be pressing like a volume button instead of the on button .
D: Mm .
B: Because you can't really see which way round it is .
A: Right .
B: Um , we also can choose what materials B: um , the B: we could use metal ,
B: we could use rubber
B: which might be more um ideal for the anti-R_S_I_ .
B: It's like the same sort of rubber that's used in stress balls and things like that , so it's very like soft , not so stressful on your hands .
A: Mm-hmm .
B: Wood .
A: B: Um , again , stepping back in time again there .
C: B: I don't think that's quite up to date with what we're looking for here .
A: Yeah .
B: Um , titanium is not gonna be possible , even though it just it beyond our budget really .
B: But , would've been maybe for future projects .
B: Um right our choice for buttons as well .
B: We've developed some B: we've got some good advances in technology ,
B: with our research team have found some uh new multiple um option scroll buttons .
B: I think that was brought up for , um , B: they're basically quite a flexible design , modern , you don't have to use individual buttons .
B: You can just slide up and down .
B: I'm sure we're all quite familiar with those on mobiles or computer laptop pads .
C: Yeah .
A: Mm-hmm .
A: Um one thing with the scroll buttons though .
A: It , it B: A: we would have to have an L_C_D_ um
B: Yeah . That's true .
A: display ,
A: and the glow in the dark thing might be difficult .
B: And that would lead to an advanced B: yeah .
B: If we have B: yeah .
B: We're going on to that later with the advanc with the L_C_D_ that means we'd need a really advanced chip .
A: Yeah .
B: And it's unlikely that that's gonna be in our budget .
D: Mm-hmm .
B: Um , also we've got the integrated pushbutton , which is what we're most familiar with .
B: It's the most straightforward .
B: But you can in like incorporate that with a scroll button as well . .
B: Got decisions to make there .
B: And this is what I was just saying before .
B: Linked in the different depends on what type of buttons we have and the inputs .
B: Um simple would go with the pushbutton .
B: Um , regular you could link with the scroll button .
B: And the advanced we'd have to go with a L_C_D_ s display .
A: Right .
B: My personal preferences ?
B: I think we could go for the kinetic energy source .
B: I don't ,
B: I think that's quite um an advanced kind of technology .
B: It's not been seen before , so it could be quite a , a novelty factor ,
B: attractive as well .
B: And also energy saving 'cause you're producing the energy , you don't need an external sort of battery supply or solar panels .
B: You just give it a shake .
A: Yeah .
B: Sounds brilliant to me .
B: Rubber casing I thing would probably the best , if we're going for the anti-R_S_I_ and like more choice with um aesthetics .
A: Uh .
B: Like it could be pretty much any colour we want .
B: Um , and gives you , yeah , more flexibility there .
B: And probably the regular chip as opposed to the simple ,
D: B: then we could possibly have the scroll and the push ,
B: but no L_C_D_ , 'cause we probably can't afford that one .
A: Yeah .
A: Um , one concern with the rubber casing is that it would be rubber encapsulating all of these chips and diodes and delicate technology as
B: Mm-hmm .
A: like as the exterior .
A: This is the one thing that's protecting its innards .
B: I think that would , uh there would be an in sort of more internal casing .
B: And the rubber would just be the , what's in contact with the human .
A: Yeah .
B: Yeah .
A: Another thing is it might be more difficult if it's a rubber exterior talking about putting on interchangeable plates .
B: Yeah .
D: Mm-hmm .
A: Um , is it A: I don't see how a like a rubber plate going on top it would stay there .
A: Like if it was sort of like a clip-on plastic plate .
A: It would work that way .
B: Maybe if the , um , if it was just kind of a , more of a rubber coating which was on to a case .
C: W
B: So , it was kind of , the whole thing would be removable .
C: Like plastic with rubber , kind of on top
B: Yeah .
B: Like A: Yeah .
B: I can't think of what .
C: Well , there's , there is a certain phone that has like a rubber casing ,
B: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
C: b like a Nokia it is .
B: Or like an D: Mm-hmm .
B: you can get sort of outer casing for iPods and something , that's just it's protective as well .
C: It's C: yeah .
A: Yeah .
D: Like the skin ?
D: Yeah .
B: It , it stops it , I mean ,
B: it would reduce the impact if it was dropped or something , as well , 'cause it wouldn't damage itself so easily .
A: Yeah .
C: A: Alright .
B: I think i maybe a mixture of both there , maybe .
A: So maybe the D: Okay .
A: Yeah .
B: Yeah .
D: So the actual remote would be hard plastic and the casings rubber .
B: And then B: yeah . Yeah .
C: Yeah .
D: Okay .
D: And the buttons obviously are rubber .
A: Yeah .
B: Yeah .
C: Yeah .
D: Okay .
A: Yeah .
D: A: That sounds good .
A: I , um ,
A: is it possible to put designs onto this type of rubber ?
B: As far as I know . It should be .
A: Okay ,
D: A: we'll just say yeah . C: B: Yeah .
A: Yes , just why not .
B: Yeah , yeah . A: Alright .
A: I like the kinetic energy source idea .
B: Yeah .
B: I thought that was A: Um , I don't know when people will , um , be moving a remote around a lot .
C: Yeah , tha
A: But I think that it's worth it , kinetety , kinetic um
D: Mm-hmm .
A: energy source .
A: It could make an we could have any kind of style .
B: Yeah .
A: It wouldn't be as heavy or bulky ,
A: and B: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
A: Just for environmental reasons .
B: Yeah .
C: D: I guess it's a bit scary 'cause it hasn't been done before .
B: Yeah .
D: So it seems we'd have to do more research on it .
D: Or I dunno if you could have a battery pack .
B: Yeah .
B: Like as a backup for something .
C: Backup .
D: Yeah
C: Yeah .
D: so there's there is a one battery , because most remotes use two batteries I believe .
B: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
D: So , if it was running off of one battery as a C: That would be good yeah .
B: Yeah .
B: Some alternative just in case something went wrong .
D: Right .
C: Maybe we could C: you were saying about um solar power ma maybe not working indoors ,
C: but a lot of calculators , yeah , have solar power .
B: That's true .
B: I just thought of that .
A: B: Yeah . Yeah .
C: So maybe that could be incorporated as B: May maybe that could be the backup .
C: Yeah .
B: Instead of a battery .
A: Yeah .
D: Although it needs some light ,
B: Like solar backup .
D: doesn't it ?
B: Yeah . I suppose
C: Do , do those calculators A: Yeah , you can watch a T_V_ in the dark then .
D: So , if we're doing B: s but some C: yeah .
D: yeah .
D: If we're B: But thing is , it's not you don't need the solar all the time .
C: I don't know how it works .
B: It can be stored .
B: It can be like C: Yeah .
B: you can have the solar energy and then it can store that energy and use it .
D: Yeah .
B: It just needs to be in light for a certain amount of time per day .
C: Yeah .
B: Like a few hours a day . .
A: Yeah .
A: I think that might be a little impractical though .
D: Yeah .
D: I think sometimes it's just shoved under , under a cushion ,
D: and yeah .
A: Yeah .
B: That's true .
B: It could easily C: Yeah .
A: Like people don't wanna have to worry about that .
B: Yeah .
D: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
B: I suppose it would be really annoying if you get to think , oh no , I forgot to charge my remote today .
C: C: B: Like if the kinetic thing , I think what's best about that is that it's instant energy .
A: Yeah .
C: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
B: You don't have to ,
B: you know , you can shake it a few times , or whatever .
A: Yeah .
B: And it works .
A: Or just like pick it up when you're gonna use it .
B: Yeah .
C: Yeah , I suppose .
B: Instead of you don't have to like make sure it's in the right place to charge and .
A: Yeah .
C: Yeah .
A: Alright . Cool .
B: K okay .
A: 'S that the end of your presentation .
B: Yeah .
C: Yeah .
A: Alright .
A: Thank you .
B: There we go .
C: Thanks .
C: Oh .
C: C: It's not on my screen .
B: it wasn't on mine either .
C: Why ? B: I don't know why .
B: I think , I just , I just used the mouse on there .
C: You don't know why ?
C: Oh okay .
C: Is it that one ?
A: Yeah .
A: That's um B: Yeah .
C: Um , I'm just gonna go through the interface concept with yous now .
C: Uh , first of all I'll explain what a user interface is .
C: It's the aspects of a computer system which can be seen or otherwise perceived , for example , heard or felt maybe , or by the human user .
C: And it's also the commands that the user uses to control its operation and to input data .
C: Um , there are two types of user interfaces .
C: There's the graphical user interface , which emphasises the use of pictures for output
C: and a pointing device , for example a mouse for input control .
C: So that's sort of like the scroll thing we were talking about .
A: Oh . Okay . Yeah .
C: Yeah .
C: I'm not really sure about the pictures that C: maybe that's on an L_C_D_ screen .
B: Mm .
C: Or maybe it's
C: the the buttons or pictures or something . A: Hmm .
B: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
C: Do you think it's B: So I suppose sometime A: Yeah , 'cause B: after you . A: I'm sorry ?
C: A: Um , because command interface requires you to type textual commands and input at a keyboard ,
A: so the numbers are sort of like a keyboard .
C: Yeah .
A: You're pressing the numbers for , um , for what you want .
C: Yeah .
B: Mm .
C: So you must , for the graphical user you must need some kind of presentation for the graphics .
B: C: Like an L_C_D_ screen .
B: I s I suppose where um mm on some buttons you would have like the power would be s some kind of symbol .
C: Yeah .
B: And if you wanted to go onto teletext or ,
B: I know we're not having that , but I mean a similar thing ,
C: Yeah .
B: you , they have there's a like little picture with a screen with lines across it ,
B: which I suppose it's that sort of thing like the , the symbol on the button .
C: Yeah .
C: Yeah .
B: But if we're having a simplified display anyway , w that , we probably won't have to focus so much on that .
A: Yeah ,
A: we'll be doing B: It'll be more the on the numbers and the volume .
C: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
A: It'd be more a command interface ,
C: Yeah .
A: and then B: I suppose we need to think of symbols for like the volume , display , and stuff like that .
A: Yeah .
D: So it's just draf graphical for the pointing aspect ?
D: The infrared is like , that's considered a B: I A: Hmm ?
C: No I think it's to do with the actual symbols that are on the , that's on the buttons of the remote control ,
C: and per
D: Okay .
D: So when it says pointing device that doesn't include B: For inp
C: Well it could be a wee scroller thing , and something could come up on the screen .
A: Yeah .
A: I think they're talking about L_C_D_ type things .
B: Mm .
D: Okay .
C: Yeah .
D: Okay .
A: Yeah .
C: But um
C: I think we're gonna go with the command interface anyway ,
C: to make it more simplistic .
A: Yeah .
D: Mm-hmm .
C: But the , we could incorporate some of the graphical user um points ,
C: as in C: just to make it m um nicer to look at maybe . A: What do you mean ?
C: Like C: I can't think of an example ,
C: but C: Sort of like little pictures rather than A: Oh yeah ,
A: like how the buttons C: Like a little sound .
C: Instead of saying volume , like a little speaker or something .
A: Yeah , as a button though .
C: Yeah ,
D: Mm .
C: something y
A: So , it's a keyboard in the shape of it ,
C: Yeah m perha yeah . Yeah . Maybe .
A: right ?
A: Okay .
A: Yeah . I like that idea .
C: Um , the co uh C: we've decided that the command interface would be the most useful for a remote control .
C: As it would be less complicated , and the controls would be more user-friendly .
C: Um , the remote control would be cheaper to design , so that we'd have more money in the budget to , um , target the design area of the interface .
C: You know , make it more trendy and original .
C: We'll have more money if we keep it simple .
A: Yeah .
A: I'm sure i like kinetic energy would probably dip into the budget .
C: Yeah .
B: Yeah . A: A bit more too , yeah .
C: Seeing as it's quite a new technology . Um C: C: We , we also have to keep in mind when we're designing our , um , more user-friendly remote control , that a lot of interfaces consist of a clutter of buttons ,
C: that , um ,
C: that their functions , colours and forms aren't always helpful .
B: Yeah . That's true .
C: Yeah .
B: That's in like the buttons with all the different like colours for different choices and things .
C: Yeah .
B: It can be a bit , yeah , overwhelming . C: And that all interfaces are different .
C: So , um ,
C: that doesn't improve the use of the produ product ,
C: so we need to come up with something that's easy to understand .
C: And maybe learn from the mistakes of other interfaces that can be too complicated for people to use .
A: Mm-hmm .
B: Yep .
C: Does anyone have any questions ?
A: Do you think that we should keep all the buttons to one same colour , just to keep it , give it a simplistic look .
C: Mm .
D: I think if we go with the um design plate thing , we'll have to .
D: Just because of colour clashing ,
D: and if we wanted to ,
A: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
D: so and ,
D: and we might , I mean , depending on what comes out of the design , we might have to stick to just black buttons .
C: But um A: But what about the lighting up effect ?
D: You mean different colours for the lighting or A: Um , well , um , I thought we had um decided that we would if you touched one of the buttons they'd all light up .
A: And so if they were black , it wouldn't be possible for them to light up .
D: Mm-hmm .
D: Oh I see what you're saying .
D: Well y
A: If they were white they would glow , probably .
A: If they were made out of rubber .
D: Oh so you're picturing the light is coming from the back .
D: I kinda pictured it as kind of coming from the sides and lighting it up frontwards .
B: Oh .
D: But , but I guess , you mean from the back .
A: Oh .
A: Where would the light come from ?
D: Okay .
B: I'd assume , like , an internal light , that comes through .
D: Okay .
A: Yeah .
C: Yeah .
B: So there would have to , have to be some parts maybe transparent around the buttons , or something .
D: Right .
A: Yeah ,
A: and well rubber is a more translucent product too ,
B: Yeah , yeah .
A: so we have that taken care of .
D: Mm-hmm .
B: It should be able to B: mm-hmm .
C: In the phone that I was thinking of as well , when you change the um covers of it , the , the little buttons that actually , you know , that contro control stuff , are behind the rubber .
B: Li yeah .
C: So you can change the buttons when you're changing the faces .
D: Oh .
C: Do you know what I mean ?
D: Yeah .
A: Oh .
C: 'Cause it's just the wee control ,
D: They , they insert over .
C: yeah ,
D: Okay .
C: thing that's behind it .
C: So A: Mm .
C: I mean , we don't have to decide on one colour .
C: Each face could have its own colour of buttons maybe ?
B: Mm-hmm .
A: Well , if they're raised up buttons .
C: Yeah .
A: So that you can feel them .
A: We were talking about it being more
A: um , a lot more tangible .
D: T
A: Um , it might be more difficult to do .
C: Yeah .
A: If they're , if they're sticking up .
A: If it's flat then , like o like on a cellphone or a mobile phone , it's like all very flat ,
A: and you just have to sort of press down on these tiny little buttons , but C: Yeah .
A: Yeah .
B: I think it would be possible .
B: I don't think it would make that much difference .
B: I mean , the uh the dimensions of it .
B: 'Cause if it's just like constructed in the same way as like the front cover of a mobile phone . You can like take off the hard cover and then there's the like say the buttons .