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ident
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Posted: Wednesday Mar 7th, 2007 12:04 pm |
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One of our Comfort integration/supply partners is working on a metal faceplate for the KP04 keypad. What is shown here is a prototype or mockup to show what can be done. This sample has a mirror finish. The surface can be lacquered to make it resistant to fingerprints
Other details like back box, volume control, mounting method need to be worked out, but we are looking for reactions and feedback to the concept and appearance, finshes etc
Attachment: P1010001.JPG (Downloaded 244 times)
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ident
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Posted: Wednesday Mar 7th, 2007 12:05 pm |
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another view
Attachment: P1010003 small.jpg (Downloaded 238 times)
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BMagalhaes
Comfort Distributors
| Joined: | Thursday Sep 28th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wednesday Mar 7th, 2007 12:39 pm |
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Hi,
As far as I can see in the pictures it will improve a lot the look of KP04.
When can we start ordering this? 
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Kanna
Comfort Distributors
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Posted: Wednesday Mar 7th, 2007 08:25 pm |
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| Is a weather-proof version available for visitor activation from the gate?
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NickG
Comfort Installers
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Posted: Wednesday Mar 7th, 2007 09:21 pm |
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Yes please!
BUT this must have a back box that enables it to be fully recessed into the wall. "Flat Plate" is all the rage here at the moment.
So if it's flush, how does the volume control work?
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royalfirst
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Posted: Wednesday Mar 7th, 2007 11:43 pm |
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Based on its features and operations, a semi-flush seems more feasible and if so, what would be its thickness. 
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Scott James
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 01:47 am |
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To be totally honest I think it looks a bit home made.
I think they need to hire in a European designer for a few days to re-design the look to get something that looks Slick and expensive. I'm sure this could be done quite easily to match the existing PCB for the door station and keypad.
I'm finding it hard to sell comfort as none of my clients like the look of the keypads so we end up always using key ring style remotes and operating most functions via the telephone. And then we just put one keypad somewhere out of sight like in the pantry. Even if they were improved and costed an extra $100-$200 I would find them allot easier to sell that I do now.
I think comfort is a great system and I try to use it everywhere I can, its a shame that the only part the end user see's looks cheap and nasty.
Here are some products that share wall space with Comfort keypads.
(I only had photo's of black units)
I find people are proud to show off things that look good. (not wanting to put them in the pantry)
Please don't think I am being negative here, I am trying to help.
Attachment: look.jpg (Downloaded 185 times) Last edited on Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 07:49 am by Scott James
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ident
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 02:34 am |
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I appreciate your comments, Scott
However what is shown is really "home made" ie is it just a prototype, to generate discussion like this.
To be realistic, what is being presented is a new faceplate for the existing product, it is not a brand new design, which is for the future. Hence it has to take the form of the current product which is 16 buttons, with LCD above it, and speaker above that. Hence, dont dismiss this too fast. Others should chip in with comments as well
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Scott James
Member
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 02:59 am |
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I did mean to keep the form of the current product the same. (16 buttons, with LCD above it, and speaker above that.)
I thought that maybe the shape and style of the face plate and buttons could be edited and maybe also the material they were made from. Leaving everything else untouched.
Regards,
Scott
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Eugene
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 05:42 am |
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I think it is one step in the right direction, but it looks a bit home made.
Regards
Eugene
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garym999
Comfort Installers
| Joined: | Saturday Aug 19th, 2006 |
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 06:43 am |
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Having be fortunate enough to see this in the flesh I can say that it really does lift Comfort and start to give it the standing it is due.
Yes it is a simple bit of metal at the moment but serves as a discussion point on what is really required. It is up to us to show whether this is something that is needed or not. I for one say yes.
Issues yet to be addressed are back box, mic mounting, acoustic feedback prevention, and volume control operation.
Comfort is a fantastic system. Yet from the clients perspective all they see of the installed system is a plastic keypad. The plate brings Comfort out of the cupboard and allows pride of place.
Depending on feedback here I'm sure if adopted, Cytech would look at other items such as doorphones etc. But let’s help get this of the ground first.
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cgiltrow
Developers
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 06:59 am |
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Hi, I think it looks great.
Can I make one more suggestion: Produce the result in both stainless steel and brass. I find brass more suitable to the house in some circumstances.
Cheers.
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poweruser
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Posted: Thursday Mar 8th, 2007 09:13 am |
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Scott James wrote: I thought that maybe the shape and style of the face plate and buttons could be edited and maybe also the material they were made from.
I have to agree - the ugly appearance of the current design (sorry) starts with the design, material and appearance of the buttons. No amount of work on the faceplate will fix that.
Hiring a professional third party to redisign the whole enclosure around the current PCB layout will pay for itself in no-time in increased sales.
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T C Tan
Comfort Installers
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Posted: Friday Mar 9th, 2007 09:27 am |
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| I think if possible make it more slim and square, and the icon on the face plate instead of on the keypad button.
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ident
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Posted: Friday Mar 9th, 2007 11:33 am |
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Thats a positive suggestion!
Icons on the metal faceplate may not be easy to see, but perhaps ssilkscreen or some other process can work
By slim do you mean thinner? This will be flush mounted so it should be slim enough
Square not feasible because of the shape of the PCB (unless the plate is wider to match the length
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garym999
Comfort Installers
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Posted: Friday Mar 9th, 2007 06:19 pm |
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poweruser wrote: I have to agree - the ugly appearance of the current design (sorry) starts with the design, material and appearance of the buttons. No amount of work on the faceplate will fix that.
Hiring a professional third party to redisign the whole enclosure around the current PCB layout will pay for itself in no-time in increased sales.
Certainly redesigning this from the ground up provides all sorts of oppertunities. I have a list already . But I would imagine the costs would be high enough to drop it down the list and hence we are back to square one.
At least with a simple faceplate it starts to address the issue cost effectivley.
The major redesign can then be saved for the next generation of keypad.
What is coming out of this thread is the need for comfort to show its worth not just its technical ability.
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Scott James
Member
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Posted: Saturday Mar 10th, 2007 01:03 am |
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garym999 wrote:
What is coming out of this thread is the need for comfort to show its worth not just its technical ability.
I agree,
the look of a product is just as important as its technical ability if it is to be competitive against it's competition!
People like things that look nice.
Last edited on Saturday Mar 10th, 2007 01:04 am by Scott James
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Scott James
Member
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Posted: Saturday Mar 10th, 2007 04:06 am |
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Just me again,
now, I have very little skills when it comes to the design department but how about something like this?
Rectangle LED's (maybe even a trendy blue one!) and square or rectangle buttons.
I'm sure that someone professional could come up with something allot better than this.
Would small changes like this be allot of work?
Attachment: P1010001 copy.jpg (Downloaded 132 times)
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admin
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Posted: Saturday Mar 10th, 2007 05:54 am |
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Rectangular keypad buttons require a new mold for the rubber parts
Rectangular or blue leds would be a bit simpler
These are not out of the question
Other alternatves like a complete redesign are not ruled out but will necessarily much much longer
However as Gary says the mockup gives an almost immediate solution for those who can do with this. It may not suit everybody but then I am sure that whatever design is proposed will also have its detractors
By the way, the KP04 design was done by "professional third parties", ie an established industrial design company even though many do not like the result.
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garym999
Comfort Installers
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Posted: Saturday Mar 10th, 2007 08:38 am |
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Scott with your skills there is no need for mockups  .
I like the idea of the central button cluster being one item. This means that the front panel only needs to have one or two rectangular holes cut which in turn means that it should be simple to adopt any front decor plate of your choice and a friendly laser cutter.
This is just what Dynalite do:
The laser is even used to etch the illuminated keycaps for a very modest fee.
Anyway back to where we are now. The exsisting prototype will work I think? The design could change, shape, finish etc. The biggest issue is the volume control as this will not suit a flush finish in its current form.
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