by Team Senic on Medium (44,000 Views)
Made for your hand
The best of three worlds
We've tried out many tools. We liked some functions; others not so much.
With the controller, we combined three technologies in a way that suits the needs of those who work and live like we do.
Hand gesture recognition, sensitive touch and precise haptics make it the perfect tool for anyone who wants to work, play and create in the digital world.
For your computer
Dozens of controls out of the box
We have already developed controls for more than 30 of the most popular applications. Week by week, you will see more controls which means that your controller will evolve over time. Your intuition is our roadmap.
Let us know which shortcuts or controls are important to you and we'll get right to work.
For your smart devices
Home should feel like home
We love smart homes. We backed some of the earliest smart devices and love them. The problem is that controlling them with your smartphone is not a great experience.
Read more: "Smartphone ≠ smart home"
We wanted a simple device that gave us natural and instant access to our smart lights and speakers.
Use Cases
Make it your own
Better Control
through Haptics, Precision and Speed
Fits into your life
"By design"
The best tools never get noticed.
We aim to make our controller beautiful in its functional complexity yet inconspicuous in your environment.
It seamlessly fits into your lives. Therefore, Senic's controller had to be portable and simple to use.
Tech Specs
Design meets technology
Connectivity
Works with your devices you already own
It connects directly to anything that speaks Bluetooth Low Energy with no additional hardware required.
We'll start off by supporting Mac, then add support for iOS devices, Android, Linux and Windows. We're making progress fast and we'll keep you posted along the way.
Setup
Personalize your controller
Choose between hundreds of setups and create your own personal controls and shortcuts. You'll be able to access your settings through an intuitive web interface. We can add mobile apps as well.
Open Platform
Create your own applications
Senic's controller's speciality is the combination of hardware and software and the possibilities this uncovers. We built it on an open platform, so developers can build even more applications. It is possible to implement custom shortcuts as well as Apple Script.
Our team grew up immersed around tools and raw materials. Our parents are carpenters, engineers and electricians.
It is fascinating and inspiring to watch how unconsciously they use their tools and the beauty and quality that results from using them.
Why can't interaction with the digital world feel the same way?
We experimented extensively in our quest to combine the physical and digital worlds. Our dream is to live in an ecosystem where technology naturally blends into our lives, allowing us to analyze, control and create in a fluid fashion.
This controller is the first major step towards this goal and you are the ones who will enable it. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much. We promise to work harder and smarter than we can imagine.
Our Team
Philip
Philip is an Electrical Engineer. He worked on quantum computers in Berkeley, worked for companies like Audi and has built microchips from scratch.
❤ Chinese & Rock'n'Roll
Chirantan
Chirantan is a Computer Scientist. He has developed more than 20 commercially used software products and has been involved in the Ruby community from the beginning.
❤ Cooking & Photography
Felix
Felix is an Industrial Designer. He studied in Germany and Sweden and has designed musical instruments, cars and industrial machines.
❤ Music & Design
Tobias
Tobias is a Product Manager. He worked in the US, Germany, Mexico and Korea, was part of YCombinator and German Accelerator and has won numerous innovation awards.
❤ Psychology & Design
Design Process
We care about details
"Good design is as little design as possible: less, but better - because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity." - Dieter Rams
We're using some of the latest technologies from material sciences, prototyping and electronics to build our controller and went through dozens of iterations until we were satisfied with a design, both functionally and aesthetically.
Made Locally
Support local manufacturing
We are proponents of local manufacturing. Why? Because you can only build quality products if you're in close proximity with your manufacturers and suppliers.
We're witnessing tremendous changes in the way products are and will be manufactured. This evolution has allowed products to be made locally. We have to be willing to explore the opportunities and lead by example.
We're happy to share our entire process with you. There is true beauty in craftsmanship giving birth to appreciation for skills and quality.
Cost
Where your money goes
Initial costs for hardware products are very high. Prices drop with larger quantities but costs like production tooling and certification are big hurdles for startups.
Have you ever wondered what the CE and FCC symbols on the back of your electronics products stand for? They certify that the products are safe to use. In order to produce the controller, we have to go through many tests from electromagnetic compatibility to safety tests. That costs a lot of money.
Therein lies the essence of crowdfunding. You help small teams like us to build something which would otherwise be impossible to make. Thank you so much!
Referral Program
Get a bag from high grade materials for free.
It is your perfect companion, wherever you go. To protect your controller, we will add a bag from high quality materials which is also crafted in Germany.
If 1 of your friends contributes to at least 1 of our controllers, YOU get one of these bags for free. We only have a limited number. Here is how you refer a friend:
1. Make sure you're logged in (check your name on top of the Indiegogo page)
2. Copy the link of the page (it includes a number, this is your personal ID)
3. Send this link to your friend.
That's it. If your friend uses that link to back the controller (which includes your ID) we can attribute the contribution to your referral.
Rewards and Stretchgoals
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Stretch goal 1 (UNLOCKED): We sent out a survey asking you what kind of stretch goals you like. More than 300 of you participated. Now that we reached 300%, you will be able to choose between the classic controller's design or an all black edition.
Stretch goal 2 (400%): If we reach 400%, we will be able to add a wall mount for the controller. This is the perfect accessory if you want to use it as a controller for connected devices like Philips Hue, LifX or Sonos speakers. It is very easy to take off and put back on again.
Stretch goal 3 (500%): If we reach 500%, we will be able to shoot a small movie about Senic's controller which shows how it is designed and manufactured. Just like in a real movie, the stars (YOU, OUR BACKERS!!!!!!) will be listed in the credits at the end of the movie. Stay golden!
Timeline
FAQ
I forgot to add shipping, what now?
Don't worry. You can still add shipping by using the box to the right of the video and above the pink contribute button.
Please add:
$10 for shipping within Europe and
$20 for international shipping.
How many controls does it have?
This might still slightly change based on the feedback you guys give us:
- Ring (2): Left and Right. It can also detect how fast you turn.
- Buttons (5), Left, Right, Middle, Up, Down
- Capactive Touch (4): Swipe Left, Right, Up, Down. You can also use certain areas of the touch surface as digital inputs
- Gesture Recognition (6): Left, Right, Up, Down, High, Low. It can also detect how fast you wave your hand.
Does your controllerw replace the mouse?
No. Senic's controller was designed as a natural user interface that gives you speed and precision and works complimentary with your computer / mouse.
Does it work like Leap Motion?
Our controller and Leap motion both use infrared technology. With Leap Motion you can track individual positions of fingers for example. For our applications like switching songs we needed simpler controls like swipe right or left.
The controller seems to be elevated, what's on the bottom?
We use an anti-slip material so it doesn't skid around.
Can I use multiple controllers?
Yes. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy. This means that you can use an unlimited number of the controller.
Can I use one control for multiple actions like dimming lights and turning on the computer?
Yes. This is done on the software side. Just let us or the other developers know what you need.
What is the maximum distance for Senic's controller?
This heavily depends on where you use it. It can range anywhere from 5 to 50m. It should be enough for any conventional apartment or house.