Shake Control

red dot
red dot award: design concept 2008

initiator:

Seoul National University

Designers:

Lee Sung Hoon Kang Sooyeon Cho Eun Bee   Lee Junehwa Kim Jean

Shake Control is a television remote control that works without batteries. A shaking motion generates electricity to turn the television on and off and control channels, volume, and other menus. The channel and volume can be changed by shaking in different directions.

It seems wasteful to use batteries for products that only use a small amount of energy, such as remote controls. Small amounts of electricity can be generated through motion – for example, by pressing and shaking. This would be enough energy to power a remote control. The external casing of Shake Control has been designed for optimum user comfort when shaking. Inside the transparent case an arrow-shaped magnet is visible along with coils of wire. When the remote control is shaken, electromagnetic induction generates a 20-30mA current – enough energy to send signals across a distance of several meters via infrared light.

When the tip of the arrow-shaped magnet hits the top of the unit, the remote control changes the channel or the volume. By pressing the button and shaking, the user can turn the TV on or off, select a menu, or change the TV mode. The remote control contains a gravity sensor that can gauge the direction of shaking. One direction controls the channel and the other direction controls the volume. When the arrow is pointed up, the channel goes up. When it is pointed down, the channel goes down. When the arrow faces left, volume goes down. When it faces right, the volume goes up.