My approach to developing the user interface for my ProntoPro NG was focused on practicality and function. The PPNG's utility, in my opinion, comes from its many hard buttons--allowing a user to issue commands without looking down at the remote. My design therefore tries to use the hard buttons for the most common operations: arrow navigation, chapter advance, home page, the "TiVo" button, and so on.

I believe the most practical user interface for an entertainment system is one that focuses on activities rather than devices. The design I've implemented hides the devices that are merely providing "output" (namely the receiver and the television). The activities are roughly analogous to "input" devices (DVD player, DirecTivo, GameCube, and music). However, the user interfaces for these activities are often sparse--limited to only those remote control features I have ever utilized while engaged in an activity. If I'm playing GameCube, I only care about controlling inputs, adjusting the volume, and switching the television aspect.

Where possible, I have tried to keep buttons that provide a given function across multiple activities in roughly the same place. For example, a "Go"... (more)

This ProntoPro NG layout is named 'blasenkammer' after an inspiring picture of bubble chamber experiments I found some times ago in the net. (Blasenkammer = bubble chamber auf deutch.) Parts of that picture, heavily edited, are used as background in this layout.

The usability model of my layout is action or mode based and it originates from my ProntoNEO layout that I have found practical among users of different ages (5 - 77). Use of the hard keys at the bottom of the screen (Firm1-Firm4) differs from almost all of the layouts that I have seen. The middle ones are used in all modes to power up, configure and switch down the whole system. I call these buttons green and red buttons (in fact I painted the hard buttons on my ProntoNEO green and red accordingly). Leftmost hard button is used to accees menu functions for main device in current mode. Righmost is used to go back to home page and to re-select the mode.

To start up the system select first from the home (mode) page what you want to do: watch TV (actually DVB or Digi TV), watch DVD, watch VCR or listen to CD. The selected button takes you to mode pages. Note that the system is not automatically turned on. In order to do... (more)

This time I was inspired by fellow Remote Central Pronto NG community member Lowpro and (in particular) by the way his movie library page functions. I eventually decided to convert my whole PCF to operate in this same manner because it allows me to have all 17 activities and control of my theatre readily at hand without making buttons or text too small. At over 700 PAGES and 300 DEVICES, this design is still simple to use and comes in under 7 megs and 69% free memory! The cosmetics reflect a snazzy PDA / Cell Phone. All of the artwork in the PCF is mine except for a couple of buttons borrowed from Daniel Tonks. PCF includes: complete control of 17 theatre activities; really cool (I think) customized loading pages for each activity; a DVD Library of 500 films (and growing); extensive interactive help screens; cable logo access buttons for Dallas area; an easy to use device teaching menu; X10 lighting control with active graphic of my theatre room and a slideshow area of theatre pictures and family photos. Special thanks and recognition to Lowpro, Lyndel McGee, and the great software upgrades from the Pronto Team. Needless to say, I would never have attempted this without the new shortcuts plus drag and drop provided in the new Pronto Edit software. As Lowpro says, "Enjoy"!

This design is straight forward and flexible and takes advantage of the advanced graphics capability of the TSU7000. The interface was designed to be user friendly for all who may use it. In most cases, each component has one screen containing the most used buttons that keeps ‘screen flipping’ to a minimum. Furthermore, the user can switch from any component to another from any screen in the interface. For example, if you are watching TV and want to switch to the DVD, all you need to do is tap the DVD icon on the top of the page and the TSU7000 will turn off the TV and switch on all components needed to watch a DVD.

What makes this design unique is the presence of the ‘splash’ screens. Splash screens are the ‘animated’ screens that appear while the TSU7000 is performing a lengthy macro. For example, when the TSU7000 is sending the commands to turn on a component, there are many steps it needs to perform. In the 5-7 seconds this takes to complete, this interface will flash through screens updating the user on the status of the task.

NOTE: All hard keys will be used to control VOL+/-, CH+/-,MUTE and DIRECTION PAD for each component interface.

The first screenshot is of the home... (more)

The result of my design: 134 custom-made buttons (not counting spacers & labels)! My favorite button is the volume toggle in the lower right page. Here's what's unique about my configuration:

Consistent frame-based GUI with three button groups in frame:
TOP: device selection with trinary button states - pressing a pressed button in the main page of a device executes a setup macro with auto-power-on, etc.
LEFT: device specific buttons, e.g. TiVo: Favorites, Thumbs Up/Down, Slo-Mo
BOTTOM: “orthogonal” (e.g. X-10 & Amplifier are always needed independent media devices), or common functions (Keypad)

Modifier buttons, when pressed once, lead to an extra screen – when pressed again they lead back to same device

Eye pleasing “soft” design with fairly correct lighting (shadows, etc.) and well balanced colors

Simplicity – one page operation with most common functions

No confusing clutter (I put in time, date & battery for completeness only... I actually prefer it without those items, but it's easier to erase them than to integrate them later)

The activity signal is still visible, though barely taking up any space now

Background is defined on the System page only,... (more)

If you're looking for animations and wild colors, then this PCF is not for you. It was designed with the older generation in mind, with nice big buttons, large text and a simple but effective layout. All buttons have a pressed and released state image. As on all of my PCFs, I have included the cursor buttons on the screen as well as the hard buttons. XaraX was used entirely for the design.

This is a new version of my PCF using some of Daniel's backgrounds and BMPs (most of the images and layouts are from my original PCF).

This is my first PCF design for the TSU7000. I created this design to accommodate my 6 year old son and my wife. Like most, she doesn't want to learn about all the equipment. As she says, "Just make it work."

The design is simple to use and is based on our most frequently used activities. These icons are on almost all pages, DirecTV, TiVo and HDTV icons. Since some of the equipment, like the Yamaha, is new to me, I'll be adding functionality over time. Most pages have a browse back button, even though one is hard coded. Easy access to guides and info. A complete collection of CD cover art provides direct access to any CD. TiVo is used frequently. Buttons are built from stock Liatro buttons.

Thanks to Daniel and all the Remote Central forum members and their designs. I borrowed from everyone. Special thanks to Dave D'Arche for the Pronto Wizard Guide. It saved me many hours and he was extremely helpful with my email questions.

This layout is an evolution of my TSU3000 layout. It is activity-based and makes heavy use of macros to control my two zones of equipment and home automation. The layout of hard and soft buttons for each device follows a pattern, making it fairly simple to learn to use. It contains a fairly extensive help system. The look borrows from the plastic look of some of the Max OS X widgets.

In the same vein of my previous submissions, here's a Star Wars version. Enjoy!