Babysitter use your Sage?

[BFisher]

I'm trying to figure out what to do with our babysitters (and in-laws). I have a separate DirecTV box just for them... why?

• Sage takes a little bit of use to get the hang of it. Once you do, it's not bad. I'd say a 5-10 minute learning curve for a babysitter (more for in-laws)
• LiveTV issues. If you watch live tv and get a little "off-track", it can be confusing for a new person ("why is my TV show in the little box in the corner?", "how do I get out of the grid guide?", "I selected a show, why is it asking me if I want to record it?" (if they select something in the future))
• Watched status - I've been asking that we make this configurable... the only time I want set watched to happen is when I select it (when I delete a show, I want to use the "delete and set watched" option). If our babysitter happens to watch Law & Order and it's set to record it for us... it will mark it watched. I do not want LiveTV to mark anything watched.
• Selecting LiveTV in the menu jumps to the current time on whatever is being recorded. I HATE that. Jump to an unused channel. It sucks when I'm recording a football game (whatever), turn on the TV and hit LiveTV to watch something else - but it jumps to the current time on the football game (and marks everything prior to that as watched).

So my question - what are you doing for your babysitters? Did you find work arounds for these issues? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

[btrcp2000]

Not exactly what you are looking for, but my mom-in-law is only about one step beyond the old rotary dial tv channel changers, and is also convinced that any of my techie stuff that she touches will instantly shatter into a million pieces. I have harmony remote that has an activity on it called "MOTHER" (not a coincidence that it's the only one in all caps). Pressing that button instantly gets her to the analog tv tuner in the tv so she can surf to her heart's content without ever seeing anything that doesn't look like tv straight out of the 70s. Unfortunately, she's still deathly afraid of the remote itself, so it's not exactly working yet.

For people more technically advanced, I have considered setting up a special activity that would send them straight to the sage EPG, most should be able to figure it out from there.

[Brent]

I've always worried about the setup being wife-proof, but never mother-in-law proof. My mother in law has always said it took a biophysics degree (she doesn't really even know what that degree is or means) to work our "remote". She would go to the one TV in our house that is wired directly to cable with no HTPC menus to watch TV - even though it is on a tiny screen and in the kitchen!

Since my mother in law just spent a week at our house I spent some more time with her showing her how to use the "remote" and get around the TV so she could watch Oprah and her soaps. It went well and she even knows how to turn it off now

As far as babysitters, I don't have to worry about that anymore, but I think most of them could handle my setup as long as I show them how to turn it on, get to the guide and live tv, stop playback and exit screens. some day soon I'll make a laminated card with the 10 basic functions you need to know and put it in the intable by the living room remote for this exact situation.

do we need MILAF & BSAF to add to the WAF???? Did I just make an acronym faux pas?

[IVB]

To get my inlaws used to the idea of PCs, I started with automating stuff via my PDA cellphone. They babysitted the kids for 24 hours, and I just told the kids "don't worry, daddy's taking a remote with him. Just call me when you're ready for a DVD".

They didn't believe me, but sure enough they called 5mins before the entree came (but after the wine, so that was good). I kicked off the DVD from a restaurant 100 miles away from my house. The CQC-Sage integration hadn't been done yet, or else these screens would also have TV shows on them.

(and no, i didn't really put aliens on for them, that's just what was on when I took the screenshot)

[mogrinz]

I guess I'm just lucky. I have 3 babysitters (25-26 years old) and they all have no problem.

I'm using the HP Media Center Remotes. I find layout extremely simple, and buttons clearly labelled (I used to use the Hauppauge remotes, with my own printed labels for what I'd mapped the colored buttons to).

Default STV, a few plugins - nothing fancy. They all picked it up immediately.

Now, when my parents come over - it's a different story. And they have DirecTV. The always flip away from Sage (Channel 123 in my house) and just watch regular (non digitial) cable. No matter what I had (Dish, digital cable, Tivo) they'd have problems.

[briands]

These replies have thus far been regarding the BAF, WAF and MIAF... the original poster also mentioned the watched history they leave in their wake... IR seems to LOVE new experiences. I agree there should be a babysitter mode. This tells the unit to IGNORE anything until told otherwise. That would be sweet.
I've tried to use the web ui to search out "watched" shows, but always seem to miss some things. It would be great if it also had a timestamp for watched or maybe any status change.
Oh well.

[Arioch5]

Originally Posted by briands

These replies have thus far been regarding the BAF, WAF and MIAF... the original poster also mentioned the watched history they leave in their wake... IR seems to LOVE new experiences. I agree there should be a babysitter mode. This tells the unit to IGNORE anything until told otherwise. That would be sweet.
I've tried to use the web ui to search out "watched" shows, but always seem to miss some things. It would be great if it also had a timestamp for watched or maybe any status change.
Oh well.

I totally agree. I would love to be able set sage into a "guest" mode. Something that simply tells it to not set anything to watched, not allow deletions, not allow editing favorites. This applies to all sources (client or server) until a pass is put in. This is my current top concern as far as UI/software updates.

[jdamore]

So, it sounds like you need the following:

A "do not write to wiz.bin" function. (takes care of the "watched" and the "IR" problem)

No option to delete recordings.

Password on the settings menu (This can already be done. I know this is possible with SageMC but I think, not sure, its actually enabled by neilms dynamic menus pluggin included in sagemc.)


Another thought would be a new STV with only the most basic functions. Basically a "dumbed down" version.

[jdamore]

BTW- I thinks its funny you pay someone sit at your house and play with your SageTV. If anyone needs a babysitter let me know!

[Arioch5]

Originally Posted by jdamore

Password on the settings menu (This can already be done. I know this is possible with SageMC but I think, not sure, its actually enabled by neilms dynamic menus pluggin included in sagemc.)

Can you point me in the right direction for this? I use SageMC and have never figured out how to password protect stuff. Is it only able to password protect things on the main menu? Maybe that's where my problem was. Thing is you can access some screens form multiple areas. The Favorites for example in SageMC would require blocking all useful TV functions

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by Arioch5

Can you point me in the right direction for this?

Highlight the item you want to put on a password and hit Esc. Edit: yes, I think this only works with main menu items..

[Arioch5]

Thanks, yea that's not a bad option for protecting the settings menu.

Maybe SageMC could include a version that lest you password protect a sub-menu. Then you could dis-allow access to the "Favorites" screen from any method used to get there. Currently, you can only block some of the main menu buttons.

Would be nice for the core Sage to offer the other things you listed.

A "do not write to wiz.bin" function. (takes care of the "watched" and the "IR" problem)

No option to delete recordings.

I'd also throw in password on the Favorites menu. Settings, aren't the only thing I want to protect. I don't want someone accidentally removing one of my favorites

[jdamore]

Originally Posted by Arioch5

Maybe SageMC could include a version that lest you password protect a sub-menu. Then you could dis-allow access to the "Favorites" screen from any method used to get there. Currently, you can only block some of the main menu buttons.

I wouldn't want to change the current SageMC STV. I would prefer to be able to load a new STV (lets call it BabyMC) that would have things like the Favorites menu and all the other stuff you wouldn't want the babysitter to touch stripped out. Perhaps this would be easy for the studio experts. When you get home from your night out, take two seconds load sagemc back.

[jsonnabend]

Originally Posted by Arioch5

I totally agree. I would love to be able set sage into a "guest" mode. Something that simply tells it to not set anything to watched, not allow deletions, not allow editing favorites. This applies to all sources (client or server) until a pass is put in. This is my current top concern as far as UI/software updates.

This would be a huge feature. Add to that the "keep one tuner free for live tv" setting, and it would be a winner of a feature set.

- Jeff

[Arioch5]

Originally Posted by jdamore

I wouldn't want to change the current SageMC STV. I would prefer to be able to load a new STV (lets call it BabyMC) that would have things like the Favorites menu and all the other stuff you wouldn't want the babysitter to touch stripped out. Perhaps this would be easy for the studio experts. When you get home from your night out, take two seconds load sagemc back.

My problem with the STV implementation like that is it's still only a patch fix for one computer. When the in-laws stay and access a client I want it to be limited too. So a single setting that would block (at the server) all 'changes'. I guess I could put this special dumb STV on the guest client, that's a neat idea.

Originally Posted by jsonnabend

This would be a huge feature. Add to that the "keep one tuner free for live tv" setting, and it would be a winner of a feature set.

- Jeff

I guess that could be configurable. Honestly, if I have 2 things scheduled to record and only 2 tuners I don't want the guest watching live TV. They can watch a pre-recorded show, what I'm recording, or read a book This becomes especially important if you've only got one tuner, one HD tuner, etc.

I honestly want a guest setting that lets people "view" with no impact on anything. So if they are watching and Sage needs the tuner to record something it just takes it.

[ybrew]

We really don't use babysitters, but if we did, my 5 year old would gladly show the babysitter how to use the TV.
Although he'd force her to watch 'the grim adventures of billy & mandy' or 'the simpsons'.

[wado1971]

My 2 cents - "Guest" mode would be a great added feature!

This topic really hits home with me considering by MIL stayed with us for the past 3 wks. What's worse is I had to explain the harmony remote and Sage UI to her in the German language (which is really quite bad). Usually this lack of communication/understanding in our relationship is a benefit for me, but alas.... not in this situation. I thought briefly of changing the Sage language to German but decided - "the less she understands, the better". I did turn off the option which asks to delete recordings after viewing of.

[Arioch5]

Originally Posted by wado1971

My 2 cents - "Guest" mode would be a great added feature!

This topic really hits home with me considering by MIL stayed with us for the past 3 wks. What's worse is I had to explain the harmony remote and Sage UI to her in the German language (which is really quite bad). Usually this lack of communication/understanding in our relationship is a benefit for me, but alas.... not in this situation. I thought briefly of changing the Sage language to German but decided - "the less she understands, the better". I did turn off the option which asks to delete recordings after viewing of.

It's funny, the idea started with Babysitters but I agree it's the In-laws or any other house guest that I'm wanting this feature for. It's a nice way to simplify sage. I could have a client in my guest room, and just let people play with it. Otherwise, I've got to explain how to use it properly which always ends in the person not wanting to use it for fear of messing it up.

Hey how do we go about making this an official feature request? The more I think about this the more I love the idea.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Arioch5

It's funny, the idea started with Babysitters but I agree it's the In-laws or any other house guest that I'm wanting this feature for. It's a nice way to simplify sage. I could have a client in my guest room, and just let people play with it. Otherwise, I've got to explain how to use it properly which always ends in the person not wanting to use it for fear of messing it up.

Hey how do we go about making this an official feature request? The more I think about this the more I love the idea.

Just ask for what has been asked in other threads. Multi-user capability! You login to a specific user like you might with Placeshifter but with additions. Then you could customize the interface however you want for that person. It would take additions to the core to support things like personalized favorites. Maybe more control over where recordings go and what tuners can be used by which favorites or manual recordings.

[QueOnda]

I seen multi-user concept at Xlobby: http://xlobby.com/news/2007/12/25/xl...y-menu-ver-30/

This would be cool if sage had something like this.