Caster Remote Control

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Caster Remote Control was designed to use with Telefonica Movistar TV service. Important control elements are the centrally arranged Directional Pad area and the strikingly Voice Command button that lets the user interact with Aura, their virtual assistant.
On the reverse side of the remote a soft coating provides additional comfort and a good grip, which enables particularly secure handling. The most frequently used buttons light up when the device is picked up in a dimly lit room.

Dimensions & Packaging

Width 44.3 mm x Depth 22.1 mm x Height 191.8 mm

Tags

TV, STB, Remote Control, Caster, Electronics, BLE, Voice Search, Wireless, Telefonica, Aura

Production Technology

ABS and polycarbonate (PC) plastics are put through injection moulding technique to create the casing of the Remote Control - top, bottom, battery lid and lens pieces.
The keypad piece is casted in silicone rubber with the exact specified hardness to assure an optimal button click feeling. All the graphics are silkprinted in the specified Pantone colour references using custom-tailored jigs to attest quality parameters.

Design Challenge

At ideation phase the main challenge was to keep the end-user at the center of the design language. This would be the first Voice Command device for Telefonica customers, therefore it was crucial to develop a cohesive, high-tech and yet intuitive product.

Project Duration

Caster Remote Control project was developed in different phases, from requirement research to product release.
First brainstorm meetings were held in March 2018, in Madrid. Until mid-2019 main actions were mechanical, electrical and software development, moulding production, and samples validation. First Mass Production run took place in November 2019, in Asia. The product was made available in stores all over Spain during January 2020.

Operation Flow

Caster Remote Control has a dual-mode interaction, from the most traditional button click to the sophisticated voice search technology. These interaction modes complement each other and provide a complete and intuitive user experience.
For an even higher-end experience, a backlight system with pick-up and light sensors has been added to the device. This allows the end user to perfectly interact with the remote even at low light conditions.

Research

Firstly, and together with Telefonica, focus groups were performed with end customers to acknowledge: (1) technological preferences, (2) ergonomic requirements, (3) sense of design, (4) emotional response to brand elements. Additionally, an extensive study has been conducted within the Call Centers' Department in order to understand the main flaws of available TV services and respective devices. Those inputs informed the Design team and served as the initial briefing.

Inspiration

The inspiration for Caster Remote Control came from automotive design, well-known by its fluent and aerodynamic lines. Therefore, Caster unique design language is marked by its flowing curves and organic shapes. This product was carefully designed to respond both to the needs of our customer, the TV operator, and to the needs of the end-user. The first ones focus on brand awareness and outstanding functionalities, whilst the latter is looking for ease-of-use and comfort.

Image Credits

All images created by João Santos (Chief Design Officer at Tech4home)

Patents

Copyrights belong to Tech4home Ltd 2019

Colors of Caster Remote Control