[UX] STB (set top box) product concept design idea

So far most of set top box product is just made horizontally. This means we need some deep cabinet to keep that under TV. This is why I think about the concept design idea of stb product. TV is getting slim nowadays. I mean TV panel is quite slim compared to the previous panel. For this change, stb product also should be slim or standing vertically.

I have worked in a company for manufacturing STB for a couple of months ago, and these days I have thought that TV is getting thinner and thinner, but why is TV rack and others near TV are not like that?

When we just have used a thick TV rack for a thick TV, Braun tube TV, we have also needed a thick TV rack for that. However, as TV is thinner, we don't have to use a thick TV rack like before. Even though we can reduce the rest of the space for that, there is still a problem for surrounding devices that are like TV set top box, IP router, Sound bar, and so on.

traditional set top box package design concept

When you see the first picture above, you can see the set top box size is over the TV rack because mostly set top box is designed horizontally. I know sometimes they have to include a HDD, so the design must be like that. At this point, that means this approach enforces users to use the thicker TV rack. However, you know you will dislike using more spaces for set top box even if TV is already slimmer than before.

new set top box package design concept 1

That's why I thinks set top box or any other surrounding devices should be considered by this change. When a set top box is designed vertically like above, we don't have to use extra space for that, and we can efficiently use the space of TV rack.

new set top box package design concept 2

If we change the design of the set top box, the box can be one of the accessory for TV like the above picture. Nowadays this change can influence many devices adjacent TV industry. You know IP router can be standing vertically, hard disk rack or NAS is also designed vertically either.

I can understand this approach make more problems in HDD. Normally, HDD should be on horizontal. That is much more stable than vertical as far as I know. That comes from the structure of HDD anyway. By the way, I believe this change will force many devices to change their design for sure.

Why do we still design such a vertical set top box? Why should we be so slow in changing from the traditional design? I want to give you a question that this is the best for our market and don't we differentiate our product with the suggested design?

I think the first mover is always suffered from the challenges but this challenge can make your product much stronger to your competitor's product surely.

I hope that you can find a good way to make your product better than now anyway, and don't be afraid of the changes.