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As part of an on going development partnership with Pace Micro Technology, Selectronic were tasked with the design and construction of the central LED display for the Sky Plus box.
 Unlike
previous consumer video recorders, digital data is being saved
onto a hard disk rather than the analogue videotape type format,
which is more familiar to many users. This technology advance is
seen as a step forward in the market which, together with the
built in Electronic Programme Guide, makes recording a programme a
simple task. This is unlike the current VCR experience, where
programming has for many proved to be a complex operation.
 The LED display is a key element of communication, so its layout needed to give clear unambiguous status indication over a range of operating modes to gain user confidence.
To replicate the concept of a disc-rotating whilst recording the events, the design concept used a circular wheel format that intuitively shows the user the status of the recorder. The selection of green LED dice built into the display gives a visual indication of playback, rewind and fast forward, and also indicates slow motion play, freeze frame and bookmark modes of operation. Two additional icons are incorporated within the display to give playback and recording indication.
The success of the Sky Plus box and the favourable press it has received regarding its ease of use and programming strengths has opened up a new viewing pattern where viewers can easily "catch" their choice of program from the selection available, then watch it at a time convenient to them. Live TV can also be 'paused'. Fundamental ease of use is essential and the custom LED display produced by Selectronic forms a major part of the Sky boxes success. In addition, this new concept has set down a revolutionary format for future recording processes which will generate greater use of digital signal capture for similar consumer electronic products..
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