I recently took a trip to Best Buy to get my hands on a variety of remote control devices, everything from antiquated universals, to the $400+ touchscreen remotes cropping up at the edges of the technophile spectrum. 

I wanted to asses the damage these things had reaped on our media-centric culture in the past few years, knowing they're on the verge of elimination up against the iPad and other tablets. I expected there would be a disparity between the expensive remotes and the cheaper, single use types (think universal vs. stereo-only). What I didn't expect was that many of the cheap, plastic, single-use types would destroy some of the bloated, higher-end models. Why? Three reasons:

1. Radical simplicity

2. Ergonomics be damned

3. Analog input

These three design principles have enabled some remote devices to embrace their roles and find a form factor that maintains a stylish, high-end feel despite their inexpensive place on the shelf. Other cheap universals have tried to mimic their big brothers, resulting in hollow-feeling plastic shells covered in multi-colored buttons, 80% of which will never be used. 

Radical simplicity
Successful smaller remotes eliminate any extraneous buttons or displays. This makes it possible to focus on primary buttons for a single task. No color or light feedback on the device is necessary, and most interactions can be handled by feel alone. Volume up, volume down, get out there. You should never have to bounce your gaze between the remote and the screen to figure out what they hell you're doing. 

TomTom remote control for GPS device

Ergonomics be damned
By breaking free of the conventional wisdom of ergonomics (balance, rounded edges, etc), these cheap, tiny remotes can maintain a form factor befitting their role. They're sleek, slim and tightly engineered. They feel hefty for their size, giving them a quality look and feel far beyond their perceived value. Style and elegance win over ergonomics every time. iPad is showing us that in every ad. 

Dell XPS M1330 remote stows away in the express card slot

Analog input
This point wipes the floor with complexity. While the previous two points arguably don't scale well for complicated remote device needs (DVRs, TVs, stereos, etc), analog controls can handle an unbelievable variety of input from users, regardless of the task and interface. The joystick alone can navigate an entire file system on a TV in seconds, even integrating a "button" in the joystick itself. This is something gamers have come to love for years now, and I'm witnessing a small roll-out to other devices as well. Bose, for example, offers a few analog audio controls that require nothing more than a tap and rotation of the finger to control you music. 

Bose Companion 5 volume control tap-wheel

Analog is the key to radically simplifying these complex universals at a price point that doesn't rival an iPad ($400 for a remote?!). After all, we're already able to handle 90% of our web interactions using nothing more than a mouse or touchpad. Clearly users are primed for the leap. Oh, and let's get on the voice input thing, shall we? It's the original analog, after all.