'Select' and 'back' can be labelled quite differently. For example 'back' may also be called 'return' or might just be in the form of an icon.

Up, down, left, right buttons make grid layouts a breeze. You shouldn't place anything on the screen in an area where it could be difficult to reach by pressing these buttons. For example, think of the number five on a dice. The centre dot would be tough to select.

Typically there are four colour keys on TV remotes: red, green, yellow and blue. Colour keys work well as shortcuts to minimise button presses. They don't exist on all remotes so don't use them for anything that's essential.

Remotes sometimes have play, pause, forward and rewind buttons. We call these 'trick keys'. Take advantage of them where possible as they are recognised actions. But again, they're not on every remote so don't rely on them.

Give thumbs a rest

Always try to reduce the number of presses it takes to complete a task. We want our audience to spend less time finding content and more time enjoying it.

Use trick keys and colour keys when appropriate to reduce the length of journeys through a TV app. Ensuring users can always get to the home screen in just two button presses is a great example of a streamlined journey.

Out with the old, in with the new

It's a good idea to make use of other input devices for certain contexts. Using a smartphone or a voice device to control the TV can make certain tasks much easier.

Smartphones provide quicker, more convenient methods of interacting with a TV. An on-screen keyboard can be a major pain point with a remote because of the amount of effort it takes to input text. Using a mobile keyboard instead can make this nice and easy.

Your voice is also another way of interacting with a TV and there are quite a few devices that now support this. Treat these technologies as an addition to the remote control. Not everyone will be able to navigate an app with their phone or voice - but those who can, might enjoy a better experience than before.

Casting content from a smartphone or tablet to a TV combines a lean-forward discovery experience with a lean-back viewing experience. This works by telling your TV what to play, rather than sending data from your device to the TV.

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History

Publication

Al Jones

Paul Jackson

Rob Farnell

Jo Chambers

David Morris

Amy Thornley

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