Video: Touchless B&O remote control prototype

Isn't it nice to watch a sexy concept makes its first, quivering steps towards retail? You're looking at the graduation design project of Joris van Gelder: the Remote for B&O. The idea was to create a remote control for kitchen use. As such, it's meant to be (mostly) touchless in order to keep the remote free from bacteria or ether, depending upon your situation. The remote responds to finger gestures and lifts and falls in concert with the volume. Two videos after the break: the first showing the concept followed by the working prototype.

[Via BEOWorld, thanks JK]

Remote for B&O from Engadget on Vimeo.

[Bobs @ Mar 28th 2008 8:45AM]

Neat concept, but its not very practical.

[Wwhat @ Mar 28th 2008 8:47AM]

I like the scifi'ness of it, but it certainly needs tweaking.

[Ayman @ Mar 28th 2008 8:54AM]

that is why its called a PROTOTYPE
plus the appilication you could add to this technology is amazing
for new types of Gaming to actually having an interactive touchless keyboard (not like the IR keyboard)

[superfresh @ Mar 28th 2008 9:34AM]

Ironically, Bobs, that's the slogan for B&O.

[R @ Mar 28th 2008 1:24PM]

Actually, it is practical. According to the description, the practicality is in the fact that it's touch-less. Couldn't something like this be used in hospitals, or really anywhere where germ control is an issue, or where you can't physically touch a control at the moment?

[Varuna @ Mar 28th 2008 2:01PM]

Oh .. yes .. I'm sure it means nothing whentouchscreencameout.

[James @ Mar 28th 2008 4:49PM]

You have to touch it when changing the volume because you gotta push it down and pull it back up... So it's not touchless.

[Ayman @ Mar 28th 2008 8:45AM]

I want one....cheap off course

[Keef @ Mar 28th 2008 8:45AM]

cool...but no....just no...

[Adam @ Mar 28th 2008 8:55AM]

nice technology, great demo. You can notice the stutter of it when it changes its angle but great for a prototype.

As for its purpose as a remote, no deal. You lose portability with this thing and it forces you to always operate it from a descent surface.

[Richard @ Mar 28th 2008 10:18AM]

It's for the kitchen. A place with lots of surfaces. It isn't meant to be portable....

That said, I love it!

[TecK @ Mar 28th 2008 10:58AM]

See... its not meant for portable use though. It said it was originally only meant for kitchen use, hence why its touch-less. Someone can now eat their fried chicken without having to wipe their hands every time they need to change the channel.

[akash @ Mar 28th 2008 8:59AM]

#1 THAT IS AWESOME... #2 LOL at Top Gear.... and #3 of cuz I WANT ONE... but known B&O the onli way would be buying their new tv/home theater package that they will announce sometime this year or next and geetin it for a premium on that... or paying lk 200 dollars for it.... :P still... want one...

[Joe Dombrowski @ Mar 28th 2008 11:45AM]

Indeed, Top Gear FTW!!!

[jorgensen.ian @ Mar 28th 2008 9:20AM]

Unfortunately is seems that the real demo is not to as smooth as prototype.

[Andrew @ Mar 28th 2008 10:00AM]

No, really? It being a prototype and all... give the guy a chance to make it smooth first will you.

[ihavebeenseen @ Mar 28th 2008 10:00AM]

nice to see the guys @ B&O use witchcraft to enhance their products.

[tintin @ Mar 28th 2008 10:14AM]

lol

[Ayman @ Mar 28th 2008 10:31AM]

rofl

[Luis @ Mar 28th 2008 1:27PM]

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarcke, 1917 - 2008

[wrabbit @ Mar 28th 2008 10:18AM]

Looks great though the volume control is unnecessarily complicated - why not just have circular cutout at the middle - move up and down to raise lower volume, move left right to switch channels and some other simple gestures for more functions.

[K Maven @ Mar 28th 2008 10:42AM]

But what if I want to go from Ch. 3 to Ch. 15? Do I have to move my finger 12 times?

[starkman @ Mar 28th 2008 10:33AM]

...how do you get teletext up? tv wouldn't be worth watching without bamboozle...

[retro77 @ Mar 28th 2008 11:12AM]

tttrrrrriiiipppppyyyyyyyyyyy

[Netmagix @ Mar 28th 2008 11:21AM]

Telekinesis!!!!!

For Top Gear by B&O

[OneLove @ Mar 28th 2008 11:45AM]

is that a remote...or is it just happy to see you?

[superfresh @ Mar 28th 2008 11:46AM]

A thin, silver, grossly overpriced product that places style far above functionality.

Sound familiar?

[superfresh @ Mar 28th 2008 11:51AM]

Might I also add:

Too vaginal, and phallic, at the same time. Brilliant.

[Mike @ Mar 28th 2008 1:35PM]

Lol. You're absolutely right! I bet that appealed to the designers.

The idea of a touchless remote is good; but this isn't a very good implementation of one. The motions are too weird and awkward, the response is too slow, it requires a lot of free space around the device to be able to get under it, it is too easy to accidentally touch it because of the slow response and the apparent proximity necessary, the mechanical lifting device will break, etc, etc. I'd call this a swing and a miss.

Unless, of course, you like the idea of watching your remote get an erection...

[Joseph @ Mar 28th 2008 12:51PM]

There's only 1 slot I'm sticking my fingers in on a daily basis.

[phanbouy @ Mar 28th 2008 1:05PM]

leave you, yourself, your mirror, and your bathroom outta this. mmkay?

[Brendan Sheehan @ Mar 28th 2008 1:07PM]

Next we'll have to pick our noses to change channels. This is a step backwards for the sake of a stupid magic show.

[phanbouy @ Mar 28th 2008 1:49PM]

and get off my lawn, too!

[JAG @ Mar 28th 2008 1:27PM]

keep the remote and give me the girl (who besides, knows how to operate the thing)

[sdh @ Mar 28th 2008 7:54PM]

Will it switch to the pornchannel if I stick my wiener in it?

[techblah @ Mar 28th 2008 11:39PM]

meh...old news http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l97maUnnYB4 ;D

[Chris @ Mar 29th 2008 7:01PM]

A device that not only has the power to determine Clarkson and Hammond's volume, but that I can make fingering gestures at- Brilliant!

[Mark @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:42AM]

I want to go from channel 236 to channel 43. Just 193 swipes of the hand to get there!