TUAW TV: The Savant experience in NYC

I like how he used "practical" and "second home" in the same sentence.

Wow - I guess they didn't read the Apple HIG. Someone send them a copy.

ok so really its got a linux backend doing all the work. it just has a dozen mac minis running the touch displays...

For a company that shows so much reverence to Apple products, their own designs aren't that great. I'm always floored by companies trying to recreate traditional remotes (channel up/down, numbers/ volume, etc) with touch screen implementations. Here's a tip: you have Wifi Enabled touch devices you can do anything. Maybe a TV Guide that you can scroll through, touch the show you want to watch, and it changes the channel. Much better. You could touch a later show to set a reminder or set up recording. Instead of all these buttons, why not just have pictures of the things you want to affect: touch your window to make blinds to down. Even for the simple stuff that does require buttons... Invest in some really nice icon design.

The problem that these guys have (and many others, to be fair) is that they're stuck trying to make literal versions of physical devices. Focus on tasks instead and milk every advantage that an internet capable touch screen device with bluetooth and gyroscopes might have. Automatic pairing; location aware remotes; up-to-the-minute TV Guides; wireless systems; gyroscopes make it so it could turn off after a few seconds and automatically light back up when you pick it up (like the Logitech remotes); IMDB built into your iPad remote app... the hardware stuff is Ok, but the software needs a lot of work. You can either be a bad Harmony One remote, or a much better "something else" by embracing your platform.

Wow, great stuff! I would love to see more content like this on TUAW.

Engadget also produces some really great video content, it's good to see it here as well.

Hey TUAW, I live like 15 minutes from their Florida showroom, should I shoot a video of the experience and submit it to TUAW?

Great stuff, but please hire a real interface designer. With all of the home/office control systems, the common problem is the way the interface looks.

I've been to this place and it is amazing! There's so many things that are not shown in this video such as the touchpanel controlled color changing LED lighting, a touchscreen iMac in the office, and the big comfy leather theater chairs with built in touchscreen.

I think in just a few more years this stuff will come down in price and anyone will be able to afford it, not just the elite. Until then I am thankful there are companies like Savant around to innovate and push the envelope on home control.

Oh look... Apple copying the Microsoft Surface!

The Savant sales manager should know that it's called an iPod touch, not an itouch.