Harmony 880 Ergonomic Evaluation

Breakdown: Human-Machine Interfaces

The Harmony 880 has six main Human-Machine Interfaces: the grip, the LCD screen button grouping, the middle button grouping, the lower button grouping, the recharging station, and the software.

The grip is comprised of the body of the remote. The familiar peanut shape has been tweaked for the Harmony line of remotes. The peanut shape is a time tested form factor that settles comfortably in both the left and right hand. More weight at the bottom provides good balance.

Two concave indentions on the underside of the remote provide resting places for your fingers. Sliding your pointer and middle finger into one of these two grooves registers your thumb in one of three positions for engaging the three button groupings.

The buttons are grouped into three areas providing a hierarchy, allowing those buttons pressed more often easier access.

The recharging station is shaped to cradle the remote and is self registering. Just drop the remote in and it settles into position.

The software is just as intelligent as the remote's help system. Simply answer questions about your setup and components and the remote sets up your activities and buttons. Further tweaking is possible for those who want to get the most out of their remote.

Ergonomic Breakdown: Comfort Factors

The Harmony 880 uses the time tested peanut form factor and the balance is comfortable. The grip indentions register the thumb in a comfortable position for activating the buttons.

The buttons all have a positive shape for the thumb to follow to know where to press. The feedback click is both physical and aural and serves its function.

Ergonomic Breakdown: Efficiency Factors

The Harmony 880 reduces the number of button presses needed to complete an action. Often an extremely complex action can be reduced to one button press. Common buttons are already present and all buttons are programmable to make remote use as efficient as the programing behind it.

Three different button zones provide a hierarchy of button groupings for efficient locating and activation with the thumb.

The recharging station makes locating the remote quick, provided it was returned to the station.

Use, Misuse & Unknowns

The Harmony 880 is rather easy to use. All you need to do is answer questions correctly and things should setup and work the way you want them to. And if they don't all you need to do is answer more questions to fix them.

The remote can take a light beating. Dropping it on a hard floor won't kill it. And it has survived the toddler test.