Ruwido
Encyclopedia
Ruwido is an Austrian
based broadcast electronics
company that manufactures input devices for television
, specialising in universal remote
controls, set-top box
es, IPTV
platforms and keyboard
s that use multi-touch
navigation and infrared
technology to operate digital television
and digital media through a central user interface
. It is known for developing a fingerprint recognition system to give users access to personalized TV content
via the remote control
.
Ruwido is widely deployed in the broadcast TV industry. Customers include CE device manufacturers, IPTV, interactive TV, and Pay TV
service providers, such as Unitymedia, Orange Mobile, Vodafone
, Motorola
, and Virgin Media
.
The company was founded in 1969 in Salzburg
, where it first entered the electronics
market, launching its first infrared
remote control
in 1975. Ruwido currently continues to operate from its headquarters in Austria
, where there are 190 Ruwido employees, of which 20 per cent work in research and development.
was awarded a Red Dot Design Award at the Aalto-Theater, Essen
, Germany
. ‘tau’ is due to be part of a 4-week special exhibition in the red dot design museum in Essen. On 4th May 2010, Ruwido supplied German cable operator Unitymedia with the remote control for its new HD box. On 23rd March 2010, Ruwido was made technology partner to supply remote controls for UK cable operator Virgin Media
’s new HDTV set-top box: the V HD box. The agreement extended the 10 year relationship between Virgin Media and Ruwido.
products and solutions based on the findings of consumer research into the functionality required and how the new technology
would impact and enhance user
experience. Tau is based on the results of a set of ethnographic studies investigating consumer needs and behaviors.
The Tau is the first remote control
to be designed with an interaction
concept. In July 2010, Ruwido launched a new design of the model, with the development of a capacitive sensor
. The model provides navigation
for services and applications
, designed as a response to consumer ethnography
. The Tau remote control is an element used between the customer and a broadcast
operating service, and a tool used in pay-tv. The technology developed for Tau has been developed for set-top boxes. The Invitro is a remote control developed for IPTV
operators, where a middleware solution is set up. The device comprises multi-touch
technology for navigation
and interaction
with a television
set, or to activate IPTV.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
based broadcast electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
company that manufactures input devices for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, specialising in universal remote
Universal Remote
A universal remote is a remote control that can be programmed to operate various brands of one or more types of consumer electronics devices. Low-end universal remotes can only control a set number of devices determined by their manufacturer, while mid- and high-end universal remotes allow the...
controls, set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es, IPTV
IPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
platforms and keyboard
Keyboard (computing)
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
s that use multi-touch
Multi-touch
In computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
navigation and infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
technology to operate digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
and digital media through a central user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
. It is known for developing a fingerprint recognition system to give users access to personalized TV content
Content
Content or contents may refer to:* Contentment, a state of being* Content , the highest common factor of a polynomial's coefficients* Content , an additive real function defined on a field of sets...
via the remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
.
Ruwido is widely deployed in the broadcast TV industry. Customers include CE device manufacturers, IPTV, interactive TV, and Pay TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
service providers, such as Unitymedia, Orange Mobile, Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
, and Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
.
The company was founded in 1969 in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, where it first entered the electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
market, launching its first infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
in 1975. Ruwido currently continues to operate from its headquarters in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, where there are 190 Ruwido employees, of which 20 per cent work in research and development.
Current Developments
On 5th July 2010, the Ruwido Tau remote controlRemote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
was awarded a Red Dot Design Award at the Aalto-Theater, Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. ‘tau’ is due to be part of a 4-week special exhibition in the red dot design museum in Essen. On 4th May 2010, Ruwido supplied German cable operator Unitymedia with the remote control for its new HD box. On 23rd March 2010, Ruwido was made technology partner to supply remote controls for UK cable operator Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
’s new HDTV set-top box: the V HD box. The agreement extended the 10 year relationship between Virgin Media and Ruwido.
Technologies and Innovations
Ruwido develops infraredInfrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
products and solutions based on the findings of consumer research into the functionality required and how the new technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
would impact and enhance user
User
User may refer to:* User , one who employs the services provided by a telecommunication system* User , one who uses drugs* User * End-user, one who uses a product in economics and commerce...
experience. Tau is based on the results of a set of ethnographic studies investigating consumer needs and behaviors.
The Tau is the first remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
to be designed with an interaction
Interaction
Interaction is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another. The idea of a two-way effect is essential in the concept of interaction, as opposed to a one-way causal effect...
concept. In July 2010, Ruwido launched a new design of the model, with the development of a capacitive sensor
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
. The model provides navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
for services and applications
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
, designed as a response to consumer ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
. The Tau remote control is an element used between the customer and a broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
operating service, and a tool used in pay-tv. The technology developed for Tau has been developed for set-top boxes. The Invitro is a remote control developed for IPTV
IPTV
Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
operators, where a middleware solution is set up. The device comprises multi-touch
Multi-touch
In computing, multi-touch refers to a touch sensing surface's ability to recognize the presence of two or more points of contact with the surface...
technology for navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
and interaction
Interaction
Interaction is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another. The idea of a two-way effect is essential in the concept of interaction, as opposed to a one-way causal effect...
with a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
set, or to activate IPTV.