Simply Smart Remote

A remote designed to help keep the elderly in their own homes.

Technology has a negative stigma against it when it comes to the elderly, but if used properly, technology can help the lives of the elderly rather than hinder them. Based on research and studies, I found that individuals higher in age struggled with smartphones and similar technology largely because there just was too much going on at once on the screen. With a simple and minimalistic design layout, the "Simply Smart Remote" takes advantage of a touchscreen to enlarge buttons and information on the remote. By doing so, the remote can perform numerous functions seen in modern smart homes that will assist in their daily lives, with far fewer buttons than even a standard Tv remote.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is one of the main aspects of a remote control. In order to find the best fit for the hand, I made a series of models and 3D printed them out to feel them in hand. Each iteration was tested by numerous individuals, varying in age and gender in order to find the best fit for all. Each iteration used the input from the testers to make slight alterations to the grip of the remote, until a final solution was reached. The grip started out as a rounded off square (left) and evolved into a complex shape that took each finger into account as well as the most efficient way to hold the remote to maximize the reach of the hand.