[speaker001:] Alright? Alright. Thank you for coming to this third meeting of the uh uh design group. Um I think we uh made some definite progress at the last one um and come up with some interesting uh uh w suggestions for our our new remote control. Um I'll again very quickly uh just present some notes of that meeting. Um [vocalsound] the the the problem with existing remote controls, we felt, was that they're ugly um and that people are prepared to pay a premium for something better. Um they've got lots of buttons on them that uh people don't use and find difficult to learn. Um and people lose them. And [vocalsound] We we thought that f for our our new uh uh remote control that everybody will want to rush out and buy, um [vocalsound] that we're [disfmarker] [vocalsound] we should look at speech recognition rather than r rather than buttons, and that if we have any buttons they should be very few of them and only for those functions that are actually identified that that people use. That [disfmarker] um [vocalsound] we want to go for uh a long lasting battery that we gua we guarantee for the life of the uh uh the product and a shape that will be instantly recognisable, A um as uh a trendy remote control, and and B as uh a Real Reaction product. So that w uh when people are uh happy with that, they will they will want to buy uh everything else from us. Uh [disfmarker] [vocalsound] Okay. So again um, I'll [disfmarker] we'll have the three three presentations from the the the three of you and then uh we'll we'll make a a final a final uh decision. Um and the the decisions that we need to to make today, finally, are um what energy source we want to use, whether i it is practical to use uh um a a a long lasting one. And uh I I think our discussion was around the fact that uh if we're gonna go for uh a long lasting power supply, then basically it's uh sealed for life and uh if anybody does manage to run one down, we'll we'll give them another one. And uh it it'll be uh, you know, prominently displayed as part of the th the advertising literature that it's um um, you know, for life, guaranteed for life. Um [vocalsound] now the the the internal chip um [disfmarker] and uh this is where I need uh uh Kate's expert advice
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] and given that [vocalsound] th this has to to go to market as quickly as possible um d d do we go for a custom designed chip? Or or do we buy one off the shelf and and programme it ourselves? Uh I mean I'm I'm I'm n not an expert on these things,
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] but presumably, there must be loads of 'em already on the market that we can modify. But uh that that's uh that's your area of expertise. And then the uh, you know, the the overall design of the case uh is is is Kendra's field
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] and uh
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] we we had some discussions last time as as to uh how we might go forward and we'll we'll finalise those uh da today. Um and thi this is all linked in with the the the user interface, whether we p um [vocalsound] go for voice, buttons, or or a bit of both. Uh and then uh, you know, f for the next meeting Kate will be looking at the the the s the look, feel and design, Kendra the uh ho how the the user actually uses it and and Andrew of course the the product evaluation. And uh Kate and Kendra will be producing a a model for us to uh to look at.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Uh so, if if we can have the the three presentations again please, and uh um p perhaps you'd like to start uh k.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Okay. Um [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] Kate. Oh I'm sorry, oh sorry.
[speaker002:] Um p there we go.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound]
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] 'Kay, I'll just be talking about the components design. And [disfmarker] [vocalsound] Okay, basically I just uh looked at what exactly do remotes do. Uh basically they wait for you to press a key or give a voice command and then this is translated uh into uh light signals which are then seen by the TV. Uh the materials we're gonna need to look at [disfmarker] uh the two big ones are the integrated circuit chip and the battery and the in integrated circuit chip uh works in conjunction with a a diode transistor or resonator, uh two more resistors and a capacitor and the battery works in conjunction with a resistor and a capacitor. Um. [vocalsound] Uh basically what happens is you'll press a number or give a voice command and this creates a a connection within the the remote that allows the chip [disfmarker] the chip then senses this connection and produces a signal in a Morse code format. This signal's sent to the transistor which amplifies it and then sends it on to the light emitting diode and uh [disfmarker] which is then trai changed into a infrared light which is sent to the TV and sort of seen by the TV and which uh changes the channels. [vocalsound] Um. Oh. [vocalsound] Uh cool. [vocalsound] Uh so as for how we should end up uh using this in our remote uh t couple of main questions are the buttons. Uh y the fewer buttons you have, I guess the fewer internal connections and internal codes you're gonna need. Um however uh to n not have buttons or to use a voice commands instead of buttons might make these connections more difficult and uh raise the production cost. That's something we should think about. Also we have to work within the company constraints, and the company has informed me via email that uh they're experts at pushbuttons and that seems to be the most uh cost-effective way of producing it. Um also with battery connections the company has some limits on the batteries we can use, so I was thinking perhaps a combination of solar cells with a back-up basic battery and somehow between the combination of that two we might be able to come up with something that uh will last the the lifetime or the five to ten years and we could still keep that original idea. [vocalsound] Um we also need to look at the chips, uh v custom-designed versus off the shelf, and the custom-designed will give us much more flexibility and enable us to incorporate the voice function that we all uh seem to have agreed upon. Um, however that's gonna cost more, but uh the off the shelf is gonna be uh cheaper and it's gonna be [disfmarker] allow us to produce it quicker and get out there faster, but it's going to be less flexible with the features, especially things like uh voice activation, which haven't really been used much on remotes, so there's not really chips out there that would be easy to uh to convert,
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] Okay,
[speaker002:] so if we were uh definitely gonna go with the the voice option we'd probably have to design um our own chip. [vocalsound] And that pretty much sums it up.
[speaker001:] so how um [disfmarker] sorry,
[speaker002:] Mm. Oh yep,
[speaker001:] can you uh just put that one back up again, please? Um.
[speaker002:] sorry. [vocalsound] Yep.
[speaker001:] Uh d d d [vocalsound] okay, I mean uh inevitably a b a custom design chip is gonna be more expensive.
[speaker002:] Mm. [vocalsound] Um
[speaker001:] Do we do we know uh by how much?
[speaker002:] I don't actually have any price information, no. [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] And and do we know how long it'll take to uh develop a a custom chip.
[speaker002:] Um it [disfmarker] a lot longer than an off the shelf chip. Oh w yeah, we did [disfmarker] the the problem is the the the voice technology is not really highly developed,
[speaker001:] Right,
[speaker002:] it's sort of still still in an ex experimental form,
[speaker001:] okay.
[speaker002:] uh so it would uh [disfmarker] it's hard to predict the time. [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Right, I think we need to make a a decision here. Uh given that the company wants this on the market quickly and cheaply,
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] that would appear to uh effectively constrain us to an existing chip and thus therefore conventional button technology. Um uh now before we go round everybody else, does anybody um
[speaker003:] I [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] h have any have anyti ha anything to say about that?
[speaker003:] I just have a question about that. Um does it make a difference if there are just a few commands, for example if you um can pre-programme in like numbers one through ten and pre-programme say, you know, nine channels and then just use the voice recognition to say channel one and then you've programmed in say BBC four as your channel one, as your favourite, it's like to have a certain number of favourites um
[speaker002:] W
[speaker003:] and that w
[speaker002:] just to to incorporate the voice activation in it is is sorta the trick. Once you've got the whole voice chip in there, then it's pretty much the the world [disfmarker] the the sky is your limit,
[speaker003:] Okay. Then it doesn't matter. Okay.
[speaker002:] but to actually [disfmarker] the the big step is to actually get the voice activation chips in there and working.
[speaker003:] Okay.
[speaker001:] Cause uh I [vocalsound] must say I find it slightly surprising given that, you know, mobile phones incorporate voice activated dialling. So uh um I mean
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I d d for slightly different [disfmarker] well no, I mean, it's if you you [disfmarker] speak somebody's name and it'll dial the number for you, so uh bu I mean the this this information is from [disfmarker] is [disfmarker] this is the internal company information, is it?
[speaker002:] Uh bits of it, yeah.
[speaker001:] So uh [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] Of course mobile phones do tend to be more expensive,
[speaker002:] Yes, as well.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] you know, hundred and fifty pounds or something. As opposed to the twenty Euros, twenty five Euros.
[speaker001:] Yeah, mm true, again but if it's without any without any uh p price informations that's uh difficult to uh
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] uh decide.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Also lots of mobile phones have got a lot of technology in them, not just that, so.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Yeah, that's that's right. It's like [disfmarker] it's it's [disfmarker] you can't [disfmarker] 'cause mobile phones are expensive, you can't say it's the voice recognition bit that is.
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker001:] But we don't know. Um. [vocalsound] I mean uh I su i I mean if [disfmarker] given that the um the technology is not well developed and and given that it's it's never been done before, um th th the double risk, uh perhaps we ought to uh stick to uh to buttons, since the last thing we want to do is present a product that doesn't work. Um. Thoughts?
[speaker003:] Well, another thought I [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] Would [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] oh, sorry, go ahead.
[speaker004:] Oh I was just gonna say mayb maybe it sh like um [disfmarker] maybe we can like cut corners somewhere else to bring in over cost.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] I mean do w do we think that the voice technology is fundamental to the project?
[speaker002:] Uh it's fundament well I mean I guess it it's something we've discussed uh since the the sort of the beginning, so I th I think in in our in our minds it's it's fundamental, but I don't know that the uh the upper echelons of the company would necessarily agree with that, so I think you have to [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] I mean I think we [disfmarker] [gap]
[speaker003:] Oh yeah.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [gap]
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker002:] Hm.
[speaker003:] Okay.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] Well, I kinda think if we're gonna have the voice recognition for part of it, then maybe we should have it for the whole thing.
[speaker001:] Yeah, I I I I I think that's uh [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] And we've been talking about it the whole time.
[speaker002:] Mm, mm.
[speaker001:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker003:] Anyway, I'm I'm incli kinda inclined to say that we should just go for it.
[speaker001:] Mm, right, okay.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Uh yeah, [gap] it's the second most important aspect to users that the device should be technologically innovative.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] [gap]
[speaker004:] From uh my presentation show, so.
[speaker001:] Yeah, it should be [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] Uh technologically innovative.
[speaker001:] Right, okay, so.
[speaker002:] No, that sounds good. Mm.
[speaker001:] Fine. Okay. I it will have voice recognition um uh
[speaker002:] Mm. Cool.
[speaker003:] Okay.
[speaker001:] if if that means uh if that means we can't afford buttons but I mean b b [vocalsound] [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Um [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] second question, do we need the five buttons for channel change, up down, [vocalsound] volume up down and on off, just as a a backup or just so that people can uh j j just sit there pressing buttons?
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Yeah, I I would say we do, yeah.
[speaker003:] I think so.
[speaker001:] Right. Okay. Sorry, d did you want to say anything?
[speaker002:] Uh nope,
[speaker001:] No?
[speaker002:] that was it, that was it.
[speaker001:] Okay. Shall we move rapidly on to uh Kendra?
[speaker002:] Okay.
[speaker003:] Okay.
[speaker001:] Uh um ra rapidly move the cable over.
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Let's see.
[speaker001:] Mm. Oh good.
[speaker003:] Oh. Yes. Is it gonna work?
[speaker002:] Yeah,
[speaker001:] Mm yeah,
[speaker002:] it's thinking about it.
[speaker001:] it'll get there. Yep.
[speaker003:] Okay. Okay,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] so I did some research on the internet and um [vocalsound] what [vocalsound] [disfmarker] you know, the interf user interface are just aspects that are seen by users, um commands and mechanisms for the operation, and there're just kind of a variety of choices. Um findings, so a lot of times they tend to look cluttered and these were just a couple examples of um different kinds that are a little bit more unusual.
[speaker001:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker003:] There're some special ones available, like this one right here,
[speaker001:] Mm, yeah.
[speaker003:] which is marketed towards children, um different designs,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh. Alright.
[speaker003:] and one of the things that n we need to watch out for is a V in volume because people some [vocalsound] Bring a little picture of what I thought ours could look like [vocalsound].
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] So just kind of minimise the clutter,
[speaker001:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker003:] avoid too many buttons and also um [vocalsound] one of the things that people have used is a slide button, like you have on a mouse, that possibly we could use that on the sides for volume, for example, have the slide button on the side,
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker003:] and then you can pre-programme the channels, the voice recognition and then the voice response sample locator.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] Mm yeah. Sorry y y yeah, [vocalsound] if I can interrupt you. Well d [vocalsound] p 'kay, do you wanna say anything about um slide controls?
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] I mean I think the reason everybody uses pushbuttons is that they're they're si simple, cheap and reliable.
[speaker002:] Uh [disfmarker] [vocalsound] Uh I think they're they're about the same cost really. I I mean, I think it's just sort of [disfmarker] the the [vocalsound] [disfmarker] there's a lot of slide buttons out there. I think it's pretty much the same sort of connection. Mm yeah. [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Okay, fair enough, fine.
[speaker003:] Just because I n for example if I'm using a mouse I like to be able to slide it up and down
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] so I thought it might be good for volume to just be able to kind of roll it and then have the up and down
[speaker001:] Yeah. Good, good.
[speaker003:] and then the [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] this is my great little drawing.
[speaker001:] So three three [disfmarker] there's three buttons on a slider.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Three buttons, channel up channel up down and [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] Y yes, yes.
[speaker004:] Well, if you g if you if you got a channel up down, we can have a slider in that as well. Because if it [disfmarker] if you no
[speaker003:] [gap]
[speaker004:] if you notice on the thing it it kind of like has got kind of [disfmarker] if you you know it s kind of like sticks, if you know what I mean, up like one unit, if you see what I mean.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker004:] So it kinda goes up one, then y like you can keep rolling it up, but it's like like like like a cog or something.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker004:] So you kinda take it up one at a time.
[speaker001:] Okay.
[speaker003:] The only advantage I was thinking of to having the buttons, like the buttons on one side for the channel, and then the slider is that if you're just holding in your hand, and you pick it up, it's easy to n s know, okay, this is just the volume and this is the channel.
[speaker004:] D
[speaker001:] Um [disfmarker] Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Oh.
[speaker001:] This one on the one side and one [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Uh you could you could [vocalsound] as l as like a mouse you could [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] yeah. Okay.
[speaker002:] Ye yeah, 'cause I've definitely picked up remotes and like meant to change the channel and turn the volume, or vice versa,
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] so it'd be kinda good to have them be [disfmarker] feel completely different.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] You'd know what you were fiddling with. Yeah.
[speaker004:] Yeah, like the shape of it almost like a mouse,
[speaker001:] Yeah,
[speaker003:] That was [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] or [disfmarker] yeah uh th th the [disfmarker] I mean thi this is what the [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] with a [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] we have to come up with is the the actual shape that people can ins instantly pick it up and and know know uh know what it's going to do.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Okay, so we we're looking at sliders for both a [disfmarker] uh volume and channel change
[speaker003:] Um well I was thinking kind of just for the volume,
[speaker001:] of one sort. Just for the volume, uh.
[speaker003:] but what what do you guys think?
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Dep I dunno if it [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] We could [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] depending on the final shape of it, 'cause you could have like, I dunno, [gap] it looks like you can c control the volume with your thumb,
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] and then you could control the buttons with your fingers.
[speaker003:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker002:] Yeah,
[speaker001:] Fingers, yeah.
[speaker002:] 'cause if [disfmarker] yeah, in that kinda position the fingers would be better for pressing and the [disfmarker] that for rolling,
[speaker001:] It [disfmarker] yeah, I mean it it it seems to me that uh it uh it al also has the advantage that it it [disfmarker] the two are clearly different,
[speaker003:] B
[speaker002:] just the way it would [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm yeah, yeah, yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] um that there's no no possibility of uh confusing the two.
[speaker004:] Oh yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] So okay. Right so uh
[speaker003:] I'm just gonna pass this along.
[speaker001:] that's [disfmarker] sorry is that that all you want to say at the mo
[speaker003:] Yes.
[speaker001:] okay, fine.
[speaker003:] Yeah. [vocalsound]
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Mm right.
[speaker004:] [gap]
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] Here we go.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Uh yeah, this is my report on trend watching.
[speaker001:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] The data's come off internet uh from executive summary for us on the top three things wanted by the consumer. And we got reports from Paris, Milan on new fashions.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] And uh the most important aspect is the l the look [disfmarker] it has to look fancy, look and feel
[speaker001:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] uh instead of the current functional look and feel. This is a st well I was gonna say yeah twice as important as the second aspect,
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] which is the technologically innov innovative um side of it. So uh and the third being easy to use is probably a given, we have to try and incorporate, so uh [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] Well I I mean I th I think that what we're suggesting ought to address all three of those.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Uh exactly, yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Okay.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] I s that out of sequence? Uh yeah, sorry. Uh yeah, and uh from the fashion watchers from Milan and Paris have said fruit and vegetables are an important theme for clothes and furniture and shoes, et cetera.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Oh.
[speaker004:] Uh sorry, clothes, shoes and furniture
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker004:] and uh a spongy material to be used on the [vocalsound] on the outside.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Mm I hadn't thought of that, that's different, certainly.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker004:] But uh I was gonna say um yeah, fruit and vegetables, uh important to [disfmarker] this year um important to furniture,
[speaker001:] What?
[speaker004:] I'm just gonna say uh [vocalsound] f like it's in [disfmarker] if if fashion [disfmarker] if we're going for the it looks fancy, then fashion is obviously the line we gotta be going through.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] But fashions do don't last very long.
[speaker002:] Well that can kinda tie into our changing uh face things, like we could have the fruit and vegetable theme this year
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker002:] and uh whatever happens next year, we can have the face plates,
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker004:] Yeah, we can have a sp like a spongy skin on it
[speaker002:] yeah.
[speaker004:] and then we can just whip that off and [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Yeah,
[speaker001:] Uh.
[speaker002:] yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah like the kind you get on like hand weights. You know, that kind of spongy [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Mm, yeah, that weird [disfmarker] I dunno what that is,
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] Uh.
[speaker002:] but yeah.
[speaker003:] yeah.
[speaker004:] A kind of [disfmarker] yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Also means you can drop it without damaging it.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Oh [disfmarker] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Uh [vocalsound], yeah, it's good as well. Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] That's [disfmarker] c cool.
[speaker003:] Yeah, that's true.
[speaker004:] Um [vocalsound] you have [disfmarker] we could [disfmarker] if we could save [disfmarker] depending on the cost of the product itself, you know, could we have uh a cheaper b cheaper power source and then just have it annually renewed? Instead of having a ten year guarantee? With interchangeable covers, could just buy a new one every year, a new one when new fashions come out.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] I I mean it its uh I [disfmarker] that's an interesting idea, it's like the old Swatch watch where uh um on only batteries ever got changed in those, 'cause people just bought a new one when it went out of fashion, but it's just never been seen as a a fashion item before.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Um that's [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] Wh
[speaker001:] yes if if if they're made in sufficient quantity [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] I [disfmarker] I think it's easier sometimes to have them buy changeable covers for it than to buy a whole new one, because you don't feel like you're investing in a whole new product.
[speaker001:] W I mean we we can uh uh b but I mean my feeling is that current power sources are such that for relatively little cost you can make it last, you know, a long time.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Mm. Yeah.
[speaker001:] Um but if we also make it cheap enough that people either change the cover every year or even buy a new one every year then it it's it's even better.
[speaker002:] Mm. Mm.
[speaker003:] What if we included the batteries in the cover?
[speaker004:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker002:] Oh yeah. I like that.
[speaker003:] So um
[speaker002:] That all c also kind of encourages 'em to buy new covers
[speaker003:] like [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] and [disfmarker] yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah, so can I see that thing?
[speaker002:] Um.
[speaker001:] S
[speaker003:] Just [disfmarker] this as examples.
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] Yeah, yeah, I n I know [disfmarker] the only p
[speaker003:] So f
[speaker001:] I mean the the the the immediate thing that comes to mind with that is that it it it [disfmarker] y you've then got the connection and you've immediately got a sort of unreliability, whereas the advantage of having it plumbed in is that that the whole thing is all, you know, completely soldered together
[speaker002:] Uh yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah, I guess that's
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] and it it it [disfmarker] you know, total reliability,
[speaker003:] true.
[speaker001:] but I mean I d I I uh I know what you're saying and uh understand where you're coming from.
[speaker004:] Or [disfmarker] well, but like uh like more than just the battery, like a complete different [disfmarker] like you've only got like, you know like th uh this bit's the bit you keep, and this is the expensive bit, this is like the chip and this is the microphone.
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] And then this is the power source and the bit everyone sees. And then [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] I th I s I think if we're gonna go down that route, then we're talking about uh [disfmarker] even if it costs slightly more than that, um just building the whole thing in one,
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Yeah, you probably are right.
[speaker001:] then having [disfmarker] getting cheaper production costs um and, you know giving people the option of buying a new uh [disfmarker] a a complete new thing, the advantage of a replaceable cover is that even if they don't [disfmarker] it doesn't have a cover on at all, it will still work um totally.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Yeah, that's true.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Um then if, you know, if people lose the cover, I mean they they might be well inclined to go out and spend however many Euros on a on a new one um rather than a a complete new re remote.
[speaker003:] Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
[speaker002:] Well that that's just it with the covers, you're sort of tricking 'em into continuing to spend their money on our products without making 'em feel like they're being ripped off having to buy a new product.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Yeah, I mean it is [disfmarker] it's up to it's up to [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] Yeah,
[speaker002:] So,
[speaker003:] just another five Euro to get [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] yeah. Yeah.
[speaker001:] Yeah, it's it's up to our marketing people to to ma to ma turn it into a a fashion item.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Right.
[speaker002:] Mm, yeah.
[speaker001:] Um and, you know, as as external fashions change, then we get new new covers on the market and, you know, readily available.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] And um [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] And that's the sort of thing, once you get the mould set, you can just whip out different colours, different pictures very very quickly.
[speaker001:] [gap] that's that's right, yeah, yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah, like they have for mobile phones
[speaker002:] Yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly.
[speaker003:] that are just fruits and animal prints and colours.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah, okay.
[speaker001:] So uh i so uh okay. [vocalsound] Um right, sorry. Um we hadn't finished your [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] Um [disfmarker] oh, don't worry it's all said, I was just gonna say uh [disfmarker] yeah, are we gonna make this as part of like like uh [disfmarker] a part of the f like it it [disfmarker] the fashions apply to furniture, so are we gonna make this part of the furniture?
[speaker001:] It's the sort of thing that we want people to have prominent dis displayed on their um coffee table to say this says something about me.
[speaker002:] Mm. Mm-hmm.
[speaker001:] Um this is fashionable.
[speaker004:] Yeah. This is fashionable with [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I, you know, I'm I'm I'm with it, I'm up to date. And you know, th the the design that I've got, and and it could be a a home-made design, um you know this says this is not just a a television remote control, this is, you know, a fashion accessory. Um, so I mean the the the basic shape i is is what we uh [disfmarker] I mean given that we've got you know one one on off button presumably, two buttons for uh channel change and one slider and basically nothing else,
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] um w we need to decide on the [disfmarker] just the basic shape of the thing. And, know whether we go down the fruit and veg route, and I don't suggest we make it look like a banana,
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] but um know sort of the the organic, you know, curved look,
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] you know,
[speaker004:] Oh yeah.
[speaker001:] t to deliberately get away from the uh um [vocalsound] uh you know, the the the the square look of most um current uh remotes and, you know, whether whether the you know, the the fixed part of it is the corporate yellow. Um mm or uh [disfmarker] 'cause there's certainly you know, the the corporate logo needs to be prominently uh displayed so that people s th looked at it and say right, that's a Real Reaction remote control, I want one of those.
[speaker002:] I dunno that we should make the whole thing yellow I kinda thought with a [disfmarker] you'd have like a yellow circle with the RR in it somewhere on it,
[speaker001:] Yeah uh the the uh [vocalsound] [disfmarker] or or b
[speaker003:] Yeah, like an [gap].
[speaker002:] but I'd [disfmarker] yellow seems a bit of a strong colour
[speaker001:] Yeah,
[speaker002:] to make the ent like the thing [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] I'd I'd um [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker002:] no,
[speaker001:] yeah. Uh no
[speaker002:] but I mean just like white or grey or black or some sort of blah colour.
[speaker001:] I d I I agree, I mean we're we're we're simply [disfmarker] it's simply required to incorporate the the the the corporate logo prominently um.
[speaker002:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Yeah [vocalsound]. Mm [vocalsound].
[speaker004:] And make that a fashion symbol as well. [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] Well n
[speaker001:] Well, th this is [disfmarker] this is the whole point, yes, you know, I'm [disfmarker] I've got a a Real Reaction uh remote control to go with my Real Reaction coffee maker or or whatever.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] And uh then people, you know, people demand more Real Reaction stuff.
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker003:] Well I was sort of mm kinda picturing like maybe um [vocalsound] a shape that's almost like a mouse.
[speaker002:] Mm. Yeah.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] So that, you know, when they hold it it's [disfmarker] because a mouse is pretty comfortable to hold in your hand um maybe we could make it a slightly different shape so they could hold on to it, but that way they can have the volume on the side and then the channel buttons and
[speaker001:] Yeah. Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker003:] have the power, wherever, somewhere.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] I mean that was just an idea that I had.
[speaker001:] I mean I've uh [disfmarker] yeah. Oh no that [disfmarker] well there's the sim [disfmarker] my my idea was something a b probably you know a bit fatter than this but sort of tha that sorta shape
[speaker003:] Yeah. Yeah, maybe.
[speaker001:] so that you can just sort of ho hold it.
[speaker002:] Yeah, you'd want it narrower than a mouse though
[speaker003:] Kind of a c
[speaker002:] 'cause it [disfmarker] a mouse you're kinda just resting on it, you want something you can definitely grip.
[speaker001:] W it [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] So maybe it'd be [disfmarker]
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I mean [disfmarker] well it's sort of it's it's sort of uh a a mouse,
[speaker003:] Sort of a combination.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker001:] but held, you know,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] so it's [disfmarker] you sorta hold it in your hand like that, i with, you know, and fiddling with the buttons.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Yeah, and fiddle around with it and press it.
[speaker003:] Yeah so [disfmarker] yeah, kind of maybe maybe a little wider than this, 'cause this is pretty comfortable to hold, and then if you had [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Maybe almost like a hairbrush, like you could get the [disfmarker] about the width of that end of the pen
[speaker003:] Yeah,
[speaker002:] and then it widens up top
[speaker003:] then wider up here.
[speaker002:] and you can fiddle an
[speaker003:] And then it would have a l uh wider thing to uh have the light, the infrared light at the TV and just kinda change channels and adjust the volume
[speaker002:] yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Mm.
[speaker003:] and the power could be wherever, up up the top or something.
[speaker002:] Yeah, cool.
[speaker003:] What do you guys think about that?
[speaker004:] Yeah, that sounds [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] Okay, yeah, yeah.
[speaker004:] Um I'm just [disfmarker] I'm suddenly realising that yeah we're discussing how much [disfmarker] how good it's gonna be to change channels t we still can just tell it to. I mean are we are we starting to get away from the the voice functionality of it?
[speaker003:] Oh yeah. [vocalsound]
[speaker002:] Yeah. [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] It's a very good point.
[speaker003:] It is a very good point.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I think we d I think we decided that w we're actually going down both routes.
[speaker002:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] That um the [vocalsound] we n we need the the manual controls and that they should be of that form,
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] but that uh [disfmarker] yeah [vocalsound].
[speaker002:] But [disfmarker] do you know, this shape also kind of les lend itself to to voice [gap] 'cause if you're you're holding it and you're fiddling, but you can also bring it up like that
[speaker001:] Then you just bring it up to your mouth
[speaker002:] and it's microphone-esque,
[speaker001:] and just speak to it,
[speaker003:] Yeah, and just say [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] yeah, yeah.
[speaker002:] yeah, yeah.
[speaker004:] Yeah, maybe we cou like w like we're leaving out the buttons for the the f less frequently used stuff, but maybe we could incorporate that into the voice.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] I th I th honest uh [vocalsound] my personal view is that if it's not there, people wouldn't use it anyway um.
[speaker004:] Mm I suppose, but t there is the off chance that, you know, th the brightness is wrong on your TV or the contrast needs changing.
[speaker001:] It's cer it's certainly possible I mean, but they [disfmarker] we we're going beyond w w
[speaker002:] Bu Mm.
[speaker001:] given the state of the technology [vocalsound] we want something that we kno we know will will work um.
[speaker004:] Hmm yeah.
[speaker002:] Well you can still i incorporate the voice with with less buttons. I mean [vocalsound] uh if the power button was also somehow like a menu button you could press that and [disfmarker] or do voice commands, and [vocalsound] either volume thing could also be to scroll through other options like y and you could scroll through brightness
[speaker001:] Uh [vocalsound] [disfmarker]
[speaker004:] Yeah, that's a good idea.
[speaker002:] and and sc
[speaker003:] Yeah, I suppose I sup
[speaker002:] and then you can you can minimise the buttons and still have those, you know, brightness and tint and stuff.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] If we we're [disfmarker] I mean [vocalsound] I'm getting a clear message that we think that we should have those facilities available.
[speaker003:] So I guess we could have a menu button as well.
[speaker002:] Yeah [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] We could have the channels and the power and then a menu button and then the volume.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] So have four buttons and the volume instead of three buttons and the volume.
[speaker001:] Uh uh uh
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Okay, if we if we're going down that route, then we need some sort of display. Do we need some sort of display?
[speaker002:] But the television would be the display
[speaker003:] Yeah, that's on the TV, yeah.
[speaker001:] We actually use the television, okay. Okay, okay, okay.
[speaker002:] that [disfmarker] things like that usually c pop up on a televi
[speaker003:] Yeah, and then y
[speaker002:] like you hit menu and menu will come up on television and have like tint brightness, and you'd use the scroll, scroll through it yeah.
[speaker004:] Well I mean on a [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] Yep.
[speaker004:] onto like a mouse, the ru the scrolling button, is actually a button as well, you could press it, you could press that and have it as a menu button.
[speaker002:] Yeah,
[speaker003:] Yeah, press that
[speaker002:] yeah, that's true.
[speaker003:] is t yeah, that might work.
[speaker002:] I never understood how that worked though, but yeah. [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] Yeah, it's like um [disfmarker] yeah, it's like the mouse where you just kinda click it. You just press it.
[speaker002:] Yeah, mm.
[speaker003:] Yeah, and you could just click that to [disfmarker] so if you had like the menu then you could scroll through and then click it to select.
[speaker002:] Mm, oka yeah. Yeah.
[speaker004:] Uh yeah.
[speaker003:] You know what I mean?
[speaker001:] Mm yeah. Okay, we got five minutes to go in this meeting,
[speaker003:] Okay.
[speaker001:] so um I d I think we've actually very conveniently just uh come to uh a good point to s to sum up um.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Cool.
[speaker001:] So um b b Kate and Kendra now go away and uh pa play play with a bit of Plasticine or play-dough,
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Play with play-dough. [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] whatever it is on the other side of the Atlantic.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] Hmm.
[speaker001:] Um and actually put what we've discussed into something uh [disfmarker] I was gonna say concrete, but that's a slightly inappropriate word [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] um to something that we can we can see and um Andrew n can go away and th th think about how we can uh actually market this as a concept and not j not just a uh um a a simple remote control.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound] Uh can I just get some things clear just for [vocalsound] my sake.
[speaker001:] Yeah, certainly, of course.
[speaker004:] Our energy source is gonna be
[speaker001:] I think I think we decided that we're gonna [disfmarker] for
[speaker004:] long term.
[speaker001:] for simplicity of, you know, manufacturing and uh maintenance that we will go for a a long term battery source um,
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Cool. Uh [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] I [disfmarker] you know, on the basis that um that, you know, if we're going for making it a fashion statement, then uh people are more likely to change it anyway uh before i it runs out and um [vocalsound] make an assumption that we we can aim for a battery that will last most people for uh we'll say at least five five ten years
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker001:] and that we'll w we will guarantee it for for five years um.
[speaker004:] And we're having a custom chip?
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] We're having a a custom chip, but given the the [disfmarker] we've cut the functions down, um that will hopefully not be too problematic, but given that um technol technological innovation is important,
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] then we need to, I'll say it again, technologically innovate.
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Um and uh we we, know, we must resist any efforts to uh to try and water that down um.
[speaker004:] And interchangeable case?
[speaker001:] I i interchangeable case seems to be um [vocalsound] um important to the concept.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Um it it should be cheap, you know, if if we avoid any, you know, electrical connections.
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] And uh i you know, i if we can come up with some way of of allowing people to actually personalise it uh to whatever they want, then uh [disfmarker] I mean uh uh this is totally new.
[speaker004:] Mm, mm-hmm.
[speaker001:] We d we don't know whether that [disfmarker] to what extent people do it or not, but if they've at least got a a good selection of um covers that they can use anyway, and uh and if if we can keep them, you know, rolling, then uh [disfmarker] you know, so they can get them in the supermarket when they go down to um a any of the famous supermarkets,
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker004:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] I won't mention any mention any names,
[speaker003:] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] um it's uh it's good for the supermarket and it's good for us and it hopefully makes them feel better.
[speaker004:] And uh are we gonna have it il being illuminated from inside onto the buttons or [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] Um the [disfmarker] that [disfmarker] I mean that's [disfmarker] no, because we've got so few buttons that it [disfmarker] that actually makes that redundant.
[speaker003:] Yeah, I think so too.
[speaker002:] Mm, does actually, yeah, yeah.
[speaker004:] Cool.
[speaker003:] Yeah, and especially for making them so like different and [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Mm different to feel,
[speaker001:] Yeah, yeah.
[speaker002:] yeah, yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] And the [disfmarker] you know, that that solves one of the problems of b of battery life,
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm. Yep, yeah.
[speaker001:] 'cause that would [disfmarker] well that would clobber the battery life,
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] so no,
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker001:] I mean given the nature of the buttons we're having, it's actually uh uh unnecessary I think.
[speaker003:] Yeah. Yeah.
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker004:] Are we having it that it's any angle, or is it just [disfmarker]
[speaker001:] [vocalsound] As uh as wide
[speaker002:] [vocalsound] Yeah.
[speaker004:] As wide as possible.
[speaker001:] [disfmarker] cer certainly wider angle than than current, so that if you're holding it, you know, anyway like you're likely to and uh it's uh [vocalsound] you know, i i it will work most of the time um.
[speaker003:] Like this or like this.
[speaker002:] Mm [vocalsound] yeah.
[speaker001:] Not like my my mum who points it at the ceiling and wonders why the th th the television doesn't work.
[speaker002:] [vocalsound]
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] [vocalsound]
[speaker001:] Um yeah, I mean I d I th I sorta envisaged that if if this was the the thing, then sort of the the whole of the top would be the uh the infrared uh.
[speaker003:] Yeah,
[speaker002:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker003:] kinda like this whole [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Yeah, mm.
[speaker003:] So you could use like this and it would go [gap].
[speaker001:] Um so [disfmarker]
[speaker002:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Yeah, 'cause I mean the r reality is people are [vocalsound] [disfmarker] they're gonna be looking at the television whilst they're using it, the chances are, so if if they're holding it anyway, the they're reasonably likely to be holding it to use it,
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] then uh then that that's the sort of coverage that we want.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Um okay, d we're all clear where we go from here.
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Yep.
[speaker002:] Yep, sounds good.
[speaker004:] Mm-hmm.
[speaker001:] Okay, so thank you very much indeed
[speaker002:] 'Kay.
[speaker001:] and I'll s see you all again in thirty minutes.
[speaker003:] [vocalsound] Okay.
[speaker002:] 'Kay.