Company promotes its ‘aura’ concept, available today

Nov 3, 2011 17:21 GMT  ·  By

Ruwido, a provider of input devices and interaction mechanisms in the context of the home, is becoming vocal on the matter that Siri, the iOS personal assistant, may one day replace the TV remote. In defending its business, the company says “the remote control device is here to stay.”

Recent rumors surrounding Apple’s upcoming plans for the television market indicate the company will roll out a full-fledged HD TV that users will control by using their voice, much like they do with their iPhone 4S.

The speculation that Apple is considering Siri as a method to enable the TV experience of the future to be controlled by voice commands doesn’t seem very appealing to Ruwido.

The company’s own ‘aura’ concept consists of a physical device and a graphical user interface.

Their method is said to allow faster, more intuitive navigation by enabling viewers to physically push the moveable slide of an input device faster. They’re using today’s report (naturally) to promote it to the masses.

Despite the company asserting it “welcomed the wider debate into how viewers will navigate the increasing amount of content available to them,” the company argued that traditional remote control devices “will remain a central interaction mechanism in the living room.”

Ferdinand Maier, CEO, ruwido, commented: “There is no doubt that the multi-button remote control devices in use today are unnecessarily complicated and many users want an easier, more intuitive way of navigating and selecting from content menus."

“Speculation regarding Apple’s plans for TV has elevated the debate within the industry, the media and on social networks as to how the experience could, and should, be enhanced, and we fully support and believe in this,” said Maier.

“While our studies do not support the concept of voice control as an accurate, reliable or even preferred option among users, we fundamentally agree that greater intuition is required and look forward to continuing the debate with consumer electronics manufacturers and service operators as to what the future holds for the control of video entertainment in the living room,” Maier concluded.