Specifications

Remote Control and Receiver-Transceiver Specifications and Requirements

for Windows Media Center in Windows Operating Systems

This conceptual remote control represents the required set of functionality that must be provided

by the Windows Media Center remote control. OEM partners can add additional functionality;

however, this functionality must not interfere with or displace the required functionality.

The Windows Media Center remote can be separated into the functional areas described in the

following list. The buttons in each functional area on the remote control should remain clustered

together in the final remote control design because the buttons provide related functionality in

terms of how the user interacts with and controls Windows Media Center.

Microsoft will provide localized text for the remote control. These text strings must be used to

maintain consistency between the program's user interface text and the remote control.

 Navigation controls. The navigation controls form the main interaction point with the user

interface. These controls enable the user to control Windows Media Center easily. This interface

is based on a focus point that can be moved around the screen to perform a function or task in

Windows Media Center. This ―tab interface‖ lets the user to navigate through the user interface

when they are sitting farther away from their display (compared to where they are sitting in a

typical computer scenario).

 Transport controls. The transport controls are used to manage and play digital media content in

Windows Media Center. This includes playing digital audio and video files and streams, playing

and recording TV, playing CDs and DVDs, and playing slide shows. All buttons in the transport

control cluster must be grouped together on the remote control, and additional buttons cannot be

placed in the middle of the cluster of transport control buttons.

 Audio and video controls. The audio and video (A/V) controls enable the user to do tasks such

as adjust the volume and change channels. The Standby button is included in this functional

group even though the button is placed on a different part of the remote control (to prevent the

user from accidentally pressing the button when using the remote control).

 Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is used to enter numbers in Windows Media Center.

 Interactive TV buttons. The Interactive TV buttons are dedicated to starting and navigating TV

experiences such as Teletext or Broadcast Markup Language (BML).

The following illustration is a conceptual industrial design of a remote control that includes

Interactive TV controls for Windows Media Center. The conceptual design of the remote control

includes a series of Windows Media Center shortcut buttons that let the user quickly go to an

experience—such as to play or record TV, display the Guide, or play a DVD—by pressing a

single button.

The following is a list of suggestions to follow, in addition to the button requirements listed later in

this document, when designing a Windows Media Center remote control:

 The number 5 button on the numeric keypad should have a raised nub or dimple to help the user

locate the center of the numeric keypad by touch.

 The Record button should be flush with the remote control case to reduce the risk of accidentally

pressing the button.

 Place a chamfer on the Skip Forward and Skip Backward buttons to help physically differentiate

these buttons from the Fast Forward and Rewind buttons on the remote control. The Skip

Forward and Skip Backward buttons are commonly used when the user is playing recorded TV,

where it is important for the user to differentiate the buttons by touch.

 The Play and Pause buttons should be grouped together in a recessed area or have a graphical

border treatment. This helps to convey the message to the user that the buttons are related and

often used together.