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HARMAN/KARDON INTRODUCES TAKE CONTROL TOUCHSCREEN SYSTEM CONTROLLER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 1998
Developed In Conjunction with Microsoft, Take Control Unifies and Organizes
the Control Of Electronic Products
WOODBURY, NY -- Harman Kardon is introducing Take Control to its dealers and
the public at the 1998 CEDIA Expo in New Orleans. This unique new product
uses touchscreen technology in combination with innovative software to let
users simplify the operation of home entertainment systems - systems that
combine an increasing number of complex products. Developed in conjunction
with Microsoft® Corporation, Take Control is on display during the CEDIA
Expo along with the entire range of Harman Kardon products in booth # 323.
"Harman Kardon has long been recognized as a leader in the creation of
products that deliver superb sonic quality along with elegant design and
ease of use," Tom McLoughlin, Harman Kardon President, explained. "In
keeping with our promise to provide the "Power for the Digital Revolution,"
Take Control expands Harman Kardon's mandate beyond the delivery and
reproduction of audio/video signals to their control and operation. After
all, unless they are easily controlled and made accessible to the consumer,
the most powerful sounds and images are wasted," continued McLoughlin.
"Thanks to the product and systems knowledge of Harman Kardon and the
hardware and software expertise of Microsoft, Take Control enables consumers
to combine virtually all of their infrared remote controls into one
touchscreen device. More important, with Take Control the functions of those
remotes are easily combined into unified activity screens that reflect the
different ways consumers operate a home entertainment system. Take Control
ends the tyranny of confusing remotes by providing a unified system
controller that works the way people think. The combination of Harman Kardon
and Microsoft has led to the creation of this unique product. Take Control
delivers all the capabilities of costly system controllers at a price far
below that of competitive products," McLoughlin concluded.
Take Control Combines Advanced Hardware Technologies and Software-Driven
Flexibility for Ultimate Power and Performance
Take Control's flexibility is made possible by the use of a backlit,
touchscreen LCD - which replaces the buttons found on conventional
remotes-in combination with a unique scroll wheel that makes movement
between screen menus and button presentations exceptionally easy. The power
behind the hardware is Microsoft software that allows commands to be set up
directly from the LCD touchscreen. Within minutes it is possible to program
Harman Kardon's Take Control with the IR codes for popular home electronic
products directly from the unit's comprehensive onboard library of IR remote
codes. To accommodate new products, or those not in the library, Take
Control has full IR-learning capabilities. However, unlike conventional
remotes, Take Control's LCD screen and user-oriented software makes it easy
to quickly transfer commands from a product's remote to Take Control.
Once Take Control is programmed to know which devices it will control, the
power of the software becomes quite evident. Using simple Setup Wizards, the
consumer is guided through a step-by-step process that enables
individualized combinations of features and functions for all products being
controlled. This reduces "button clutter" so that only user-designated
control buttons are visible and nonessential buttons are hidden.
Called "activities," these combinations let a Take Control user operate a
home theater system from a single touchscreen menu by presenting audio
controls from an A/V receiver, video controls from a TV set or projector,
channel selection from a cable box and transport controls from a VCR, DVD or
LD player. Where conventional remotes require the user to constantly switch
between the button patterns for each controlled device, Take Control greatly
simplifies operation by presenting the custom-named "soft key" buttons
directly on the touchscreen panel. In combination with the scroll wheel and
discrete volume up/down buttons, Take Control provides maximum flexibility
with a minimum of buttons.
PC Programming Capability Enhances Take Control's Flexibility
Take Control's power does not end with setup from the built-in, backlit,
touchscreen. Using the Microsoft Windows® 95/98 or Windows NT® compatible
software supplied with Take Control and a personal computer (x486 or
higher), users may enhance the operation of Take Control for even greater
flexibility.
When connected to a PC, Take Control's touchscreen buttons may be arranged,
reprogrammed or custom named to reflect personal preferences. The software
also permits the creation of macro commands so that the long grouping of
button presses normally required to perform home entertainment system
functions may be executed with the touch of one button. Multiple macros may
be created and individually named so that the user may easily select them
from Take Control's main menu using the scroll wheel. The "drop and drag"
design of the software makes configuration fast and easy, even for the
novice user.
In addition to creating macros and activities, the PC may also be used to
store a complete copy of the unit's memory. This provides a backup
capability previously available only in products costing vastly more than
Take Control. The backup may also be used to program multiple Take Control
units so that once a set of commands is established, additional Take Control
units may quickly be programmed for operation in different locations within
the home. Of course, the backup is key to quickly restoring all specialized
command patterns in the event that a Take Control unit is lost or damaged.
Simple, Yet Powerful, System Control
Once Take Control has been configured, it is both powerful and simple to
use. With the touch-screen serving as a palette to display only those
buttons required for a specific activity, just four actual tactile buttons
are required. Direct access is always available to volume up/down and mute,
as well as to illuminate or dim the backlight. A "home" button is also
available to instantly bring Take Control to the home menu for selection of
another function. Complementing the four standard buttons is a unique scroll
wheel developed by the same design team responsible for Microsoft's
award-winning IntelliMouse® pointing devices. It lets users quickly move
through the touchscreen selections, or surf through channels on a TV, VCR,
satellite receiver or cable box. When the desired selection appears, a
simple press activates the control.
Using either preprogrammed or custom configured activities such as "Watch
TV," "Listen to a CD" or "Record a Show," only a single click of the scroll
wheel is needed to activate the precise combination of buttons or commands
needed to complete the desired task. In addition to these pre-programmed
activities, any custom macro that has been previously programmed from Take
Control's LCD screen or via a PC will be automatically activated, enabling
multiple commands to be transmitted in the proper sequence with one tap of
the touchscreen. Consumers no longer have to juggle remotes or identify
command legends using a multipage manual. Each Take Control function is
designed to present a clear display of required buttons.
When room lighting is dim, bright backlighting of the LCD screen is only a
button press away. Also available is a built-in clock/timer, and an onboard
speaker confirms commands with a programmable beep.
Take Control is carefully designed for long battery life, and onboard memory
stores all programmed settings and remote codes so that they are once again
available after replacing batteries.
Harman Kardon's Take Control includes the system controller, the CD-ROM
software for computer programming, a special serial connection cable and
batteries. Take Control will be available in late October from Harman Kardon
dealers at a suggested retail price of $349.
About Harman Kardon
Harman Kardon is a part of the Harman Consumer Group (HCG), which includes
the worldwide operations of Harman Kardon, JBL, Infinity and Madrigal Audio
Laboratories, Inc. Harman International Industries, Incorporated
(www.harman.com), is a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of
high-quality, high-fidelity audio products targeted primarily at the
consumer, professional and OEM markets. The Company's stock is traded on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: HAR.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products
and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission
of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the
full power of personal computing every day.
Harman Kardon is a registered trademark and Take Control is a trademark of
Harman Kardon, Inc.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT and IntelliMouse are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and/or other
countries.
For more information, color transparencies or electronic photo files, please
call 516-682-3705.
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