Remote control

Your remote control really is central to making it easy to watch TV – and never more so than now we are all going digital. You use the remote to navigate a host of features – a good design can make all the difference.

• A well-designed remote will have the important buttons grouped together in easy reach and set apart from the others. In fact some of the best controls can be operated with one hand without looking at them. Definitely try holding and using the remote before you buy.
  
  One of the better remotes
• You use the four arrow keys to move around different on-screen menus – and this can work really well. If the remote is well designed, each key’s purpose will be so logical that you will be operating them without having to think about it.
  
• A centre button is then used to select the programme, page or feature you have arrived at. A few manufacturers put this button somewhere else on the control – we can’t imagine why.
  
• Some manufacturers also use the arrow keys for volume and channel change. It works quite intuitively, though most manufacturers still favour separate volume and channel controls.
  
• Different shaped buttons are easier to find by touch and different colours can be helpful, especially for the record and playback buttons on digital TV recorders.
  
• All digital TV remotes should have four different coloured buttons in a straight line. These match options on the screen for interactive features, so they need to match both colour and order.
  

  Well laid out interactive buttons	These interactive buttons don’t line up with the on-screen prompts

• It’s useful for the set top box or digital TV recorder remote to have at least a TV on and off and volume control, and possibly a button to select one or other device – such as TV or DVD recorder. You will need to programme the new remote to recognise your model of TV.
• A separate button, to switch on subtitles or audio description, will help anyone in the household who needs them.
• Using the remote control single handed, it should feel comfortable and balanced and the main navigation buttons within reach of your thumb. For two handed users, the keys should be easy to locate and hit with a finger.
• A separate button, to switch on subtitles, will help anyone in the household who needs them.

Sky+ Remote Control Easy Grip
This product from BSkyB is to help their customers with grip or sight difficulties. Here we must declare an interest: Ricability carried out research with older and disabled people on its prototypes and BSkyB clearly took on board our findings. The markings and labels are easier to see – large and with good colour contrast – and there are more tactile indicators. The textured back and sides of the remote are easier to grip, so are the higher and concave buttons – and you know for sure when you have pressed them. There’s also a version with a hand-strap. Contact BSkyB for more information

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