@rplst8 posted:The remote will likely need two primary things that will require long term support for a sustainable future for Legacy control. One is some sort of display and the other is a microprocessor. There are plenty of long-lived processor families that while frequently discontinued, have direct drop in replacements that are 100% backward compatible year, after year, after year. Displays are slightly tougher, but I don’t think dot matrix black and white LCDs are going anywhere in the next 20 years. Even if they were, COLOR dot matrix LCDs will probably outlive them by another 20 years, and we haven’t even touched the subject of high-res touch screen parts that natively support HDMI/DVI or have serial interfaces. They are cheap, plentiful, and versatile, and combined with a row of multifunction buttons on the sides or top and bottom, would support whatever crazy and cool features that Ryan and Dave could think up.
Memory is a non-issue nowadays so features can continue to be added just like they could be added in an app.
Well I’ve worked in audio production a lot, and through and after the transition to digital touch screens only augmented physical controls, they didn’t and haven’t replace them.
If they are starting from scratch yes this could all be done. A programmable touch screen and such. The resources and financial burden on a small company like Lionel may not make that feasible. Only they know what they can support in the way of new hardware. For us to assume one way or the other is a moot point but certainly fun for the sake of discussion.
It sounds to me what you are describing is the solution I put forward in a dumb interface, knobs, slider, and a button or two for the basic functionality with a smart device driving it with a nice screen to boot.
I would absolutely hate and so would the mixers I work with, that an audio console would go all touchscreen because that is in fact where you need to have that touch sensation is the faders but beyond the them and a few multipurpose controls they are pretty much there on all the other functionality. Although I am seeing them pop up for some secondary mixing positions where it's less critical. More of a "set and forget" scenario and where space is an issue. I still don't think this is as big of a crisis for the toy train industry.
Maybe some 3rd party can make an interface that truly works with both the DCS and Cab3 app that has the controls folks want. I would think if it was as easy and as lucrative to produce we'd already have something.
I would say though if you feel this strongly then I would actually write Lionel. While they monitor this board, a direct communication goes a lot further IMO than posting on a forum. If memory serves, the only reason the "J" stripe was repainted by Harry and the PE RPO car got new shells was because people went directly to Lionel.
Again good conversation.
