Remote control functions

Just a little feedback. The paragraph below is not very clear - especially as it is at the beginner level.

Does it refer to a "silent mode"? If so, why not call it something like that because "manner" doesn't convey anything in particular. Or is it just me?

What is the default setting? To beep or not to beep that is the question.


[MANNER]

You can also use the first button on the top left to set manner mode on and off. When in manner mode, the "manner" LED on the remote control is on. Pulses and pages will be delivered without any "beeps". Due to the waterproofing on the receiver beeps are not very loud anyway. Much louder sound can be had by removing the rubber o-ring on the receiver (but the receiver will no longer be waterproof, so beware).

There is a leash mode that confines the wearer to stay within a certain distance. Another complementary function could be the "barrier mode". Get too close and get zapped. This is great for teasing.

It should be very easy to program because it's a small variation on the leash mode and it might be more popular than some of the other functions.

Selling extra barrier transmitters might be a good source of revenue with minimal R&D. E.g. the wearer is on a diet, put a barrier transmitter on the fridge. The wearer is being kept away item X, just add a barrier transmitter.

This kind of feature already exists in the pet kingdom
http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Pawz-Away-Instant-Barrier/dp/B000A76ZYS

Didn't realize there are so many functions. I think it would be helpful if the commands could be displayed in small print on the back of the remote.

I like Henry's idea with the barrier. Lol, the position of the fridge in our house is so strategic that a barrier placed on it would in fact block 80% of the routes to rooms in our house, including the kitchen and bathroom :)

Some of my first thoughts... From the mindset of a "dumb" user (the kind of person the manual/documentation should be written for)

"[ON/OFF]: self explanatory. Other keys can only be pressed when the remote control is ON."

Nothing is ever self explanatory. What gets turned on/off? the remote? the receiver? If I hit OFF, will the disable the DL2K-Link from working?

"the aircon's remote button"
What is an aircon's remote button?

Don't break it down by Basic User / Intermediate User / Advance User. It would make better sense to break it down as Basic Functionality / Intermediate Functionality / Advanced Functionality. Advanced users can still use the basic functions.

With regards to the button+button functionality, this sounds like it's going to end up being a two handed operation or will require too many fingers. It would be easier if it were something like: Press and release bone|timer button, then press 1|2|3 within ~2 seconds to activate that functionality or repress the bone|timer button again to turn off whatever bone|timer program that was active, or don't press a button for that 2 seconds to disable/forget/reset having pressed the bone|timer button. This way if you key in your timer program, pressing the timer button again by accident doesn't erase it.


"The remote will turn itself off after a number of seconds as usual."
What is usual? This is the first mention of the remote turning itself off automatically. How many number of seconds?

Additional modes settings requests...
Slap amplifier mode: Desired sub modes : Activity mode - If accelerometer senses lack of enough movement, a zap is delivered. Forseeable use would be to task him with jumping up and down for 15 minutes, if he slows down or isn't going fast enough, the receiver will give him some "encouragement" to pick up the pace.
Stand still mode - The threshold does not allow walking around or other activity.

Leash mode: Desired sub modes : Keep away mode - This is the inverse of leash mode. If he gets too close, zap time.
Follow mode - If he gets too close or gets too far, he gets a correction. This way, if we're out walking somewhere, he can follow behind at least three paces without getting lost.

Canine mode: Desired sub mode : Run in circles - I don't know if the accelerometer can detect this or not, but it'd be desirable to have him turn in circles while in canine mode. The duration and speed might need to be set up via the DL2K-Link.

(I like the idea of being able to use this as a tool as an unattended way to keep him busy doing stuff)

We're out of firmware space so no additional modes are foreseen. Besides, we're in the Male Management business, not Weight Management :)

- Clarified ON/OFF button
- Aircon button clarified
- User -> functionality change
- added initial mention of the auto-off feature
- request to change button+button into button -> button being considered

- Manner mode is common terminology on cell phones isn't it?

Understood the issue of not having memory space for additional modes, but I'm still posting this, for future reference:

Possible canine submodes:
- "go/come to bed" mode: zap if the body is vertical. Useful for situations when the male refuses to come/go to bed.
- "wake up" mode: zap if the body is NOT vertical. Useful for getting the male out of bed in the morning.

These two modes would be even more helpful with timers, e.g. "come to bed" activates after 5 min, whereas "wake up" activates at a specific time in the morning.

One idea would be to have the option of swapping out one functionality for another, as per user preferences. However, such modular design of the software and the swapping algorithm may require the firmware to use far more memory space than it already is, thus becoming an unfeasible option. Unless it's already there.

There's a note in there about differences in signal strength for Leash mode between DL2K-Link and the remote. Does the battery strength affect the ping strength on the remote? If the battery's at 1/2 strength, does that mean his leash is half as long?

Another future enhancement that I just thought of...
Leashed call - press the Call button and it gives him a summoning alert and starts pinging. If the ping strength doesn't constantly get stronger, it gives him more encouragement to get a hurry up.

May we have a bit more explanation about silent commands ? I understand, it works only with the arousal inducer. What kind of pattern is it ? Are they fixed patterns with no user configuration ?

May I make a request/suggestion...

Instead of using the term 'manner' can it be renamed to something like quiet mode or stealth mode.

Manner means things like holding the door open for ladies, saying 'please' and 'thank you', stuff like that. When I see a 'manner' button on something like this, my first impression is that it's something to encourage good manners. The manner button doesn't do that. In fact, it's the other buttons that do that.

Another function for the remote would be an automatic lock out do the close proximity. You also know that the human body generate 100 Watts do another way to secure the remote would be to key it to the owners natural electrical signature. Or the wearers signature so that anyone can operate it but him. The simpler method would be to generate an artificial electrical signal, but either way you do it, the remote can automatically and continuously punish the wearer for touching it.