Deconstructing Product Design

Remote Control — Series 1

TiVo, 1998

1. With its distinctive organic shape, colorful keys, and intuitive on-television interface, the TiVo remote control has become the usability standard by which other remote controls are judged. While VCRs and DVRs around the world continue flashing 12:00 because users can’t figure out how to set the time, TiVo users are happily browsing their online guides, recording programs, and speeding through commercials. Paul Newby, senior director of consumer engineering at TiVo, comments: “It became obvious early on that to achieve the seamless trick play and control we were after for our new PVR/DVR creation, the remote must be comfortable for long periods of in-hand use. This and an iconic look were motivations ...