check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar Canegrowers rearview170 Cobb Grill Skid Row Recovery Gear
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Remote controls -- too many functions for Mum and Dad


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3959
Date:
Remote controls -- too many functions for Mum and Dad


I'm forever having to recover from Mum's mistakes with her TV remote control. In the past I ordered a minimal remote with just the basic functions, but these are not always available. It then occurred to me that I could buy a replacement, full featured remote ($20) and modify it to disable all but the most needed buttons.

The easiest, non destructive way to achieve this end would be to open the remote, remove the rubber keypad, and then use a scalpel or razor blade to trim the conductive coating from the bottoms of the unnecessary buttons. I would then label the remote as "modified" so as not to confuse other users. The best place for such a label would arguably be inside the battery compartment. Alternatively one could etch the plastic face of the remote with an advisory warning.

 



__________________

"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."

Lucius Cornelius Sulla - died 78 BC 

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1477
Date:

That sounds like a great idea.Did you actually modify one? There is a lot of functions that aren't needed by everyone.



__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 964
Date:

A few years ago I was visiting an elderly friend. She was an avid AFL follower and lifelong Carlton supporter. Somehow she had rejigged her TV and couldn't get her footy of TV and with the season approaching, just a little frustrated. I retuned everything and took photos of every step and videos of a few stages. Then I sent these to her daughter for reference. When I left I made sure she knew help from me or her daughter was a phone call away. A few weeks later her daughter tested her and at 83 she coped well. Never thought about dumbing down her remote and it sounds viable buy I'd hate to think of her distress if I stuffed it up.

__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3959
Date:

My mother is getting a new TV. After it arrives I'll order a second remote and modify it. The original remote can be stored away in case the TV needs to be reconfigured.

Another solution might be to cover the relevant PCB contacts with a sticky label, exposing only the needed keys with a hole punch. Or one could use a clear plastic film cut to the size of the PCB.

I once had a device with a very complicated remote. It had a flap that covered the less frequently needed features. ISTM that manufacturers could dumb down their remotes by using a combination of two buttons to toggle between dumb and smart modes. These buttons would be at opposite ends of the keypad, and would need to be held down for 3 seconds. Another solution might be to enable/disable each button according to taste and then store this customised selection. Or the manufacturer could provide 9 preset dumb configurations, each selected by the corresponding number on the remote, with 0 being the full featured mode.



-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 15th of April 2021 04:56:37 AM

__________________

"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."

Lucius Cornelius Sulla - died 78 BC 

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 7314
Date:

Another little trick is a bright coloured sticker so you can see which end to point at the TV!

 

_MG_7247.jpg



Attachments
__________________

Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.

KJB


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 828
Date:

Whenarewethere wrote:

Another little trick is a bright coloured sticker so you can see which end to point at the TV!

 

_MG_7247.jpg


 Glue the un-needed buttons  in place and coat with black paint......



__________________

KB



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 22
Date:

My MIL had the same issues with too many buttons. We used WHITE OUT to identify the ON/OFF button so that she didn't continue to accidentally turn it OFF. We covered some of the 'advanced' functions with nail polish and she avoided them. Seemed to work OK.

__________________

IVECO 50C18 carrying a Winnebago Esperance with a BIG garage at the back followed by a Suzuki GV5



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 964
Date:

Google found this .... I know nothing about it https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Easy-Seniors-Pensioners-Remote-Control-Extra-Large-Big-Buttons-Elderly-Silver-/262015391463?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3959
Date:

I didn't realise that programmable remotes were so cheap.

Here is a simple learning remote control for $5:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Learning-Remote-Control-with-6-big-buttons-smart-controller-duplicateB-KN/184761950876

The functions are Power, Ch Up/Down, Vol Up/Down, Mute.

Here is a learning remote with a full keypad for $5:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Universal-Smart-Remote-Control-Controller-With-Learn-Function-For-LCD-TV-B-3C/324464835153

I expect that one could program the needed functions and leave the others unprogrammed.



__________________

"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."

Lucius Cornelius Sulla - died 78 BC 

 

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook