Recommended PVR for elderly?

In message , Robin
wrote



I console myself with the thought that, if I make it to 70+, voice
recognition will have replaced the buttoned remote.


And if anyone in the TV programme being watched says the words 'off -
change - record - delete' the box would automatically respond to the
command.

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

In article ,
Robin wrote:
But note tense: Humax have changed this in the current software so OK
does indeed play the selected recording (although you still then have to
press MENU to get out of the menu and see it full screen). You now
delete with the red button (the other red button that is, not the Record
button).

I'm glad I got the Toppy, then. Pressing ok cancels the menu at the times
you want this to happen.

--
*Money isn't everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

And if anyone in the TV programme being watched says the words 'off -
change - record - delete' the box would automatically respond to the
command.

That was, if I recall correctly, anticipated and solved in SF by the
1950s by requiring an unusual word or phrase within a few seconds to
confirm/implement commands. Eg "Pitcairn" or "Go Fido" or perhaps, if
you are really worried about accidents, "Alistair Campbell is the most
honest person in Britain"?

--
Robin

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote
In article ,
Robin wrote:
But note tense: Humax have changed this in the current software so OK
does indeed play the selected recording (although you still then have to
press MENU to get out of the menu and see it full screen). You now
delete with the red button (the other red button that is, not the Record
button).

I'm glad I got the Toppy, then. Pressing ok cancels the menu at the times
you want this to happen.


And even if this wasn't the default operation someone would write a
Toppy TAP to ensure that it could be changed

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

On Sun, 13 May 2007 14:58:54 GMT, "Robin"
wrote:

And if anyone in the TV programme being watched says the words 'off -
change - record - delete' the box would automatically respond to the
command.

That was, if I recall correctly, anticipated and solved in SF by the
1950s by requiring an unusual word or phrase within a few seconds to
confirm/implement commands. Eg "Pitcairn" or "Go Fido" or perhaps, if
you are really worried about accidents, "Alistair Campbell is the most
honest person in Britain"?

That could make voice-operated channel-hopping a bit awkward.

Rod.

I thought that someone would shout me down,
I have both 8000 and 9200 at home and like both for different reasons,
BUT the point is that most older people, if they have any experience
of recording, will have a basic knowledge of what a VCR can do.
Mostly they want to timeshift and the bonus of live pause is great.
For them, and most others, programming from the EPG is magic. Playing
a recording whilst making another is not an issue. Making two
recordings at once is not really an issue. And it has already been
stated that those concerned already have Freeview so watching one and
recording one is no problem either.

I have installed and fully explained the usage of every one of the
many hundreds of VCR's, DVD recorders and PVR8000's and PVR9200's that
I have sold over 17 years and I can very safely say that I have had
fewer phone calls afterwards re the usage of the 8000's than anything
else.

For most, the dual purpose remote is great but it has to be said that
there are some who find selection of control of the TV or control of
the PVR on/off a bit confusing. For those, I take out the operating
code for TV control and they do use the TV's own remote.

By the way, the vast majority of VCR's also stopped recording if the
standby button was pressed.

On 13 May 2007 14:31:13 -0700, wrote:

I have installed and fully explained the usage of every one of the
many hundreds of VCR's, DVD recorders and PVR8000's and PVR9200's that
I have sold over 17 years and I can very safely say that I have had
fewer phone calls afterwards re the usage of the 8000's than anything
else.

Maybe this is because they just accept the limitations of this machine
as characteristic of all disk recorders, which is rather a shame
because it is possible to do better.

[...]
By the way, the vast majority of VCR's also stopped recording if the
standby button was pressed.

True, but then the vast majority of VCRs had a load of other
limitations that don't inherently apply to disk machines - like
spooling time and the need to rewind for instance, and the lack of
editing facilities.

Maybe the 8000 was an attempt to make a disk recorder that behaved
like a VCR, in the same way that most camera manufacturers continue to
make electronic stills cameras that physically resemble film cameras
when there's no need to from an operational point of view, and plenty
to be gained by using the increased flexibility that electronics can
offer. I can see the commercial pressure to make new technology
resemble what people are already accustomed to, because that is
probably what largely determines what they buy, but after they've
bought it they're often lumbered with something that doesn't do much
more for them than what they already had.

Rod.