Archive:10-foot user interface

LinuxMCE user interface

A 10-foot user interface is a software graphical user interface, designed for display on a television set (or similar large screen), with interaction using a regular television-style remote control.

"10 foot" refers to the fact that the interface's elements—i.e. menus, buttons, text fonts, and so on—are theoretically large enough to easily read at a distance of 10 feet (approximately 3 metres) from the display, (which in this context is normally a television). To avoid distractions and to be clearer, 10 foot UIs also tend to be very simple and usually only have the core buttons you require.

Typical examples of 10-foot user interfaces are media center software applications such as Front Row, LinuxMCE, Windows Media Center and XBMC Media Center interfaces.

Overview

The "10 foot" is used to differentiate it from a desktop computer screen that is typically less than two feet from the viewer's eyes. Designed to be used by a handheld remote control, the 10-foot user interface has extra large buttons and menu text that are easily navigated.

File:10footUI.gif

Common setting for the 10-foot user interface is a home theater with surround sound. The distance between viewer and TV varies, but is typically 10 feet with a 42" or 47" display.

See also

• Graphical user interface
• Post-WIMP and WIMP (WIMP stands for "window, icon, menu, pointing device")
• Skin
• User interface engineering
• Human-Machine Interface
• Live user interface
• Look and feel
• Object-oriented user interface
• Organic User Interface
• Usability
• Ergonomics
• Model-view-controller

External links

• 10-foot user interface definition-PC World
• "10-foot user interface" definition according to The Free Dictionary by Farlex

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