EPFL + ECAL Lab pushes our buttons with its 'Lazy Bytes' project

Cock can wine glass converted into remote
(Image credit: press)
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The more our everyday activities become digitally led, the more we rely on the remote control to simplify our relationship with digital media. The EPFL+ECAL Lab - a partnership between Lausanne's tech institute and design school - spotted this early and embarked on a mission to give the humble remote a makeover.

Along with three top design schools (ENSCI-Les Ateliers in Paris, London's RCA and New York's Parsons), the EPFL+ECAL Lab explored some truly innovative propositions for remote design. The collaboration led to the unveiling, this week, of Lazy Bytes, a range of ergonomic digital prototypes designed not only for entertainment but just about every facet of our lives.

The moniker blends the name of the first ever remote (the Lazy Bones, which hit the market in 1951) with that of a key partner on the project, interactive design pioneers Luckybite. Similarly, the project aims to pioneer an interactive product with a greater number of functions at a retail cost more in line with its mid-20th-century predecessor.

'Why the remote control? Because we decided to launch a much wider program about digital interfaces and more generally our relation to the digital world,' explains EPFL+ECAL Lab director Nicolas Henchoz. 'One thing we can observe is that most of the interfaces are driven by performance. We've added more and more features and functions.'

In terms of ideas, the sky was the limit - as the diverse results demonstrate. Tiny plastic 'Freehand', by ECAL student Cleo Jacquet, attaches itself like a children's toy to household objects with its twin suction cups. The notion is that anything can become a remote. Meanwhile 'Platform', by ENSCI student Florent Julien, and the intriguing wood 'Twistymote', by Parsons group Hilal Koyuncu, Leif Percifield and Francisco Zamorano, incorporate simplified interfaces that belie their inner complexity.

The prototypes will headline an exhibition in late 2013, followed by a conference - after which the remote control will surely take its place as the rightful icon of the digital world.

The tiny plastic gadget resembles a children's toy

The tiny plastic gadget resembles a children's toy

(Image credit: press)

A single joystick to control all digital interfaces within a living room

The 'Circule', by ENSCI's Arthur Siau, has a single joystick to control all digital interfaces within a living room. Five mini screens around the joystick help make navigation intuitive

(Image credit: press)

'Keiko', whose upper body comprises a touch pad

Three Parsons graduates - Marisela Riveros, Noa Dolberg and Frederico Andrade - collaborated on the voluptuous 'Keiko', whose upper body comprises a touch pad

(Image credit: press)

Small control platform that slides on a simplified base with bold instructive text

Florent Julien's 'Platform' belies its complexity with a small control platform that slides on a simplified base with bold instructive text

(Image credit: press)

Button-free touch-pad on the 'Touch Speak Walk

To navigate the button-free touch-pad on the 'Touch Speak Walk' by RCA's David Bellisario, slide your finger along the dotted line. A voice-recognition interface takes your command. You confirm with a squeeze

(Image credit: press)

To navigate the button-free touch-pad on the 'Touch Speak Walk' by RCA's David Bellisario, slide your finger along the dotted line. A voice-recognition interface takes your command. You confirm with a squeeze

'Mussel'controls channel-changing

'Mussel', by Sylvain Joly at ECAL, controls channel-changing on its broad upper surface and volume at its middle

(Image credit: press)

'Scan It', ergonomic remote with a scanner

The all-knowing 'Scan It', by ENSCI's Max Barnsteiner, is an ergonomic remote with a scanner on the underside that also allows for note-taking

(Image credit: press)

'Boreal' it lights up in colour while you navigate

Press a button on the 'Boreal' by Pierre Loup Dumas and Léa Harang of ENSCI and it lights up in colour while you navigate

(Image credit: press)

Functions are determined by the degree of finger pressure on the rounded buttons

Functions are determined by the degree of finger pressure on the rounded buttons

(Image credit: press)

Hardwood base and sliding black-stone controller that's attached magnetically

Raphaël Dutoit of ECAL created the Galeo, with a hardwood base and sliding black-stone controller that's attached magnetically

(Image credit: press)

Lazy Bytes Remote Packshot

'Map', by Léa Bardin and Mattéo Sorbelli of ENSCI, treats the remote as a landscape. The upper 'valley' is where users navigate content. Selections fall to the bottom of the valley and the middle forms a 'bridge' over the information flow

(Image credit: press)

Lazy Bytes Remote Packshot

Amazingly light in the hand, 'La Télécommande', by ECAL's Christophe Guberan, uses four touch-sensitive interior plates for easy navigation

(Image credit: press)

'Biface' by Tristan Nicholls

Inspired by the Neolitihic era, 'Biface' by Tristan Nicholls of ENSCI has functions on its upper and lower surfaces and a comfortable grip

(Image credit: press)

Remote with simple interface in natural wood

The 'Abies' by Manon Briod of ECAL has a simple interface in natural wood, with graphic elements in relief

(Image credit: press)

Aptly named, 'Tactilus' by Anne Laure Weill

Aptly named, 'Tactilus' by Anne Laure Weill at ENSCI, has an interface of tiny, flexible points that can reassemble to form knobs for special functions

(Image credit: press)

Marble TV stand by designers Nicholas Cinquegrani, Tami Evnin , Liza Stark of Parsons

When placed on this marble stand - called 'Sift TV' by designers Nicholas Cinquegrani, Tami Evnin and Liza Stark of Parsons - any object can be controlled, as long as it has an 'RFID tag' stuck on

(Image credit: press)

The platform supports additional features like volume control

The platform supports additional features like volume control

(Image credit: press)

'Twistymote' a wood wand with a four-colour turning base that customises function

Hilal Koyuncu, Leif Percifield and Francisco Zamorano, of Parsons, designed 'Twistymote': a wood wand with a four-colour turning base that customises function

(Image credit: press)

'Klee', by Isaure Bouyssonnie of ECAL

With 'Klee', by Isaure Bouyssonnie of ECAL, the user inserts the key to turn channels or control volume

(Image credit: press)

The all-purpose knob in 'Wooden Remoter'

The all-purpose knob in 'Wooden Remoter', by ECAL's Melissa Meylan, moves while connected to the wooden base by a magnet

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'Necklace interface', 'Etnic' by Matthieu Girel of ECAL

The project's only 'necklace interface', 'Etnic' by Matthieu Girel of ECAL, allows continual access to the remote, with each element of the necklace performing a function

(Image credit: press)

A 'Ring', however, by Ludovic Owczarz of ECAL

There is a 'Ring', however, by Ludovic Owczarz of ECAL, with sensors on the sides that respond to simple finger gestures

(Image credit: press)

A control-cum-speaker that delivers sound away from the main gadget

ENSCI's Emile Kirsch has created 'A Portée d'Onde': a control-cum-speaker that delivers sound away from the main gadget. It can be controlled by several people at once

(Image credit: press)

'Pen & Paper' by Simon Kinneir of RCA explores

'Pen & Paper' by Simon Kinneir of RCA explores the connection between written symbols and digital controls

(Image credit: press)

A piece of paper attached to the tablet responds to handwriting

A piece of paper attached to the tablet responds to handwriting

(Image credit: press)

Lazy Bytes EEL Remote Hand

Select your channel by orienting the ring of 'Irma' toward a mosaic on your TV display. The gadget was designed by Zoë Aegerter of ENSCI

(Image credit: press)

'Rolling Control' by Mathieu Rohrer of ECAL

'Rolling Control' by Mathieu Rohrer of ECAL controls 999 channels with three discs representing singles, tens and hundreds, with the smallest disc controlling the volume

(Image credit: press)

'Zap' by Marie Schenker of ECAL was printed with conductive ink that ensures contact between the pages

'Zap' by Marie Schenker of ECAL was printed with conductive ink that ensures contact between the pages. As soon as it opens, the channel displays the corresponding spread. On/off and volume controls are on the binding

(Image credit: TBC)

A display on 'Guide TV' by Meil Merry of RCA

A display on 'Guide TV' by Meil Merry of RCA scrolls through favourite channels while a key helps jump from one to the next

(Image credit: press)

Play the 'Sonic Remote' by Joseph Pipal of RCA

Play the 'Sonic Remote' by Joseph Pipal of RCA and you'll conjure corresponding entertainment on your gadget

(Image credit: press)

Lucien Gumy of ECAL designed the 'Boulier'

Lucien Gumy of ECAL designed the 'Boulier', which displays numbers in tens and singles

(Image credit: press)

'Timeline', by Maria Graves of ENSCI

'Timeline', by Maria Graves of ENSCI, acts as a slide rule to select channels chronologically

(Image credit: press)
Ellie Stathaki

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).

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