How Startups Can Prototype and Test Any Product in Just Five Days

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

The room was packed at the fourth annual Grow Conference in Vancouver on August 14. A caffeinated crowd was geared to go, so there was no time to be wasted. Daniel Burka and Jake Knapp, two design partners from Google Ventures, offered a new perspective to developing prototypes or commonly known as bad ideas with fewer repeated errors. Their session was titled “Quit wasting time on ideas that suck.”

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is repeating one process and expecting different results.”

So how is it possible not to waste time on something we invested so much in? Are we all insane to believe in our shiny ideas?

Not necessarily. Burka and Knapp recognizes that there is a better way to go about developing an idea that is much faster than the old fashioned step by step linear procedure and it only takes five days. And they do this by redefining the word “ship.” The traditional meaning of “ship” means getting it off the production line and into the hands of users. Then beautiful data is collected, but rarely is that the case—because often press releases, new features and other variables end up muddying the data.

Their fast-paced method begins on Monday and strictly ends on Friday. A deadline is key. Each day has a specific job. On Monday they would schedule a target audience to view their prototype on Friday, which means a prototype needs to be ready by Thursday night. So what happens in between?

Day one is all about learning and understanding the users, consumers and the product itself. By boosting the knowledge of what the customer needs and what the product needs to do, the team can then recognize which direction they need to take.

The second day is where the team needs to sketch out every possible solution. But it is not a group brainstorm; rather the team breaks up to work individually. That way by the end of the day there should be a large collection of well thought though ideas.

On the third day the team would narrow the ideas down, but not in the most democratic way, that method tends to lead to more watered down ideas. They don’t choose the ideas, but rather the concepts they feel really must be tested. Then you let the data decide.

The fourth day is all about creating the prototypes. It might sound like a limited amount of time, but first three days help significantly in planning out the building processes.

And finally Friday morning arrives and it is all about testing out the idea. Whether it is good or bad, the data will tell it all. Either way, time was not lost, a lesson was learned and sanity was retained—at least for now.

Top Less

December 27, 2013April 17, 2014 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Calm before the glitter storm.

by Elliot Chan

lettering by Gina Mackay

Formerly published in Discorder Magazine. October, 2013

Exterior: the sound of thunder and a flash of lightning as Vancouver’s night sky presents another complementary performance.

Interior: sound check for Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party’s CD release concert continues at a casual pace.

I sit alone in Venue on a turbulent Thursday night as technicians walk back and forth through the brightly-lit dance club. I dismiss the shattered illusion of show production and patiently wait for my interview with the eccentrically named power-pop band. After attention on each instrument and three practice songs, the seven group members make their way offstage.

When the band’s first EP came out in 2010, they enjoyed a quick rise in popularity and developed an enthusiastic fan base. Three years later, they’re releasing their first full-length.

“It really packs a punch,” says TGLTP’s frontman, Michael Schindler. “People are used to our shows being really intense. Our album represents that in many different ways, but it’s not done by sheer energy; it’s done more meticulously by adding more arrangements and textures.”

“It’s like neon camouflage sexual dysfunction,” chimes drummer and vocalist, Benny Schutze from the other side of the green room. The rest of the band turns to Schutze, chuckle, and request an explanation. “Because the neon camouflages the sexual dysfunction.”
Up a narrow staircase, behind the stage is Venue’s ironically blue green room. I sit nuzzled in the corner between bass player Ian Bevis and Schindler, while the other five members arrange themselves intimately on couches and chairs in the cramped closet-like space. It’s a cozy sanctuary for the night.

“Put him on the guest list, but don’t let him come up here,” the group debates whether to offer VIP wristbands to friends of friends attending the show.

“I’m down for a super-strict wristband rule,” says Tyson. “This needs to be tranquility.”

“We get pumped up,” says Schindler. “But we don’t want 30 people in here partying while we get prepared. Also you want 20 minutes before you play to get in the zone.”

It’s unusual observing a band named Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party proposing rules and allocating privileges. But they’ve learned through past experiences that guests sometimes take advantage of the band’s hospitality. Obnoxious third parties become distractions, precious costume changing spaces become occupied, and most importantly: complimentary beverages vanish. They aren’t uptight; they’re simply professionals.

photo by Yu Su

Though they’ve come to an agreement on the backstage regulations, there are still other ongoing disputes — namely, their band name.

“We shortened it [TGLTP] for all intensive purposes,” says Schindler. “Top Less is just easier for everyone to say… but we will always be Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party.”

The name derived from a Kid Alex song that Schindler thought was called “Topless Gaylove,” but was actually called “Young Love (Topless).” “I just kind of screwed it up.” The band smiles over the ridiculous outcome. “And Tekno Party is just a party with everyone raving it up. Partying with sparkles in your hair.”

“And in your beard,” guitarist Kevin Fairbairn points to the leftover glitter in Schindler’s facial hair. “You need to shower.”

“I showered today!” says Schindler. “It doesn’t come off of me, I don’t understand what it is — I have a weird skin thing.”

“It takes a couple days even if you shower… unless you have a luffa.”

As children of the ‘90s, TGLTP indulged in hip-hop, classic rock, and funk — none of which they replicate today, but still have a large influence in the music they make.

“Some of the guitar writing we do, you can definitely feel some of the classic rock coming through,” said Tyson. “We’re not making phat hip-hop beats, but there is still a hot dance groove. There is still a sexy bass.”

Once a week TGLTP gather in their shared studio space to work on music, but seldom would you see the seven together in a non-music environment. “We’re friends, we hang out, but it’s music — always,” says Bevis. “Some of us DJ together, some of us produce together, and some of us write stuff —”

“I sometimes go over to Benny’s house and hang out when he’s in his bathrobe,” Schindler interrupts, “because that’s the only time he’ll hang out with me.”

The long awaited self-titled album by TGLTP is now available for purchase and download on iTunes, but having time to perform is the real accomplishment. Although their CD release tour was brief, expect them to be on the stage again real soon.

“Even though we were doing a ton of work,” says Schutze, “and people were always asking about [the album], it was like being in a sexless marriage. The live show was like fucking, it’s the culmination and the climax of what we get to do together. But when you are not doing it — that gets to be the feeling.”

With confetti, balloons, and sparkles in the forecast, TGLTP dress accordingly. Golden spandexes, silver jackets, or even onesies — but they’re careful to avoid wool products. The tinsel tempest may capsize ships and bring down mountains, but it won’t apologize to your glitter-clogged shower drain and laundry machine. But it doesn’t matter, because shimmer is the new clean.

Taming the control freak

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

How to be a leader without alienating yourself

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in The Other Press. October, 2013

Throw a bunch of humans together and see who turns into an animal first.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a workplace environment, a table of friends, or a packed car on a road trip—there will always be a project manager, a storyteller at the dinner table, and a driver in the car. Although the leadership role is sometimes appointed, most often it’s just imposed upon the individual, and from there they have to control the manic, power-hungry beast inside.

We’ve all been or interacted with a control freak. Sometimes their behaviours are so subtle that we don’t even notice them manipulating us; other times they’re aggressive, confrontational, and abusive.

A famous study by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo showed that when given power, anybody can behave in a cruel and unusual manner. The 1971 Stanford Prison experiment was intended to simulate two weeks in prison. Twenty-four students volunteered to participate, with 12 appointed as guards and 12 as inmates. The experiment was halted after six days, when prisoners began to passively accept abuse and harassment from the guards.

Deny it all you want, but there’s a monster inside of you. Although it might not erupt in the same capacity as the prison guards, it can still roar unintentionally at your peers, colleagues, and friends.

Perfectionists and control freaks may not see themselves as the villains. They might feel like the only one who cares, and that they’re merely trying to get the job done in the most efficient manner. In doing so, they create separation—an alienating aura, a souring reputation.

If you ever find yourself resisting compromise or unable to delegate work, you must step back for a moment and recognize the control freak brewing inside you. Only then can you properly assess the situation and your relationship with the group, and have the demon exorcised.

To eradicate the “my way or the highway” attitude, you must be willing to listen. Stay silent for a moment and hear what others have to say. The voice inside your head will try to jump in, but don’t let it. Allow the others to finish and then give your point of view. This way, it becomes a discussion and not a lecture. Control freaks feel these types of interactions slow the working process, but in fact it builds a relationship. By understanding how others think and work, you as a leader can then begin to employ them in the most effective areas.

Don’t interfere with others’ working processes unless they ask for help. The objective might be getting from point-A to point-B, but the journey isn’t up to you. Allow others to work at their own pace, even if they’re slowing the process down. A good leader will communicate and address displeasure, but a good leader will not do the work for them.

The best way to kill the control freak inside is to wing it: whatever you are doing, just wing it and see what happens. Spontaneity is control freak cyanide and a quality leader’s magic potion. Those who can handle improvising and thinking on their feet will be revered by their peers in a way that commanding and demanding leaders can’t be.

Fringe Bar

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

The Watering Hole for Vancouver’s Wild Festival

by Elliot Chan

Formerly published in Discorder Magazine. Sept. 3, 2013

An actor, a musician, and a dancer walk into the Fringe Bar — the rest is unpredictable.

Before you judge this article based solely on my poorly crafted joke, know that the Vancouver Fringe Festival is all about experimenting. And when it comes to conducting experiments and exploring the chemistry of “us,” there is no better place than the social laboratory a.k.a. the Bar.

The Fringe Bar is the watering hole for the festival’s wildlife before, in-between, and during shows. The St. Ambroise Fringe Bar has fostered some of the city’s most creative live performances over the years, and still nobody knows what to expect this time around. Dramatic routines, balloon animal gymnastics, or banjo-playing burlesque dancers; it’s always a mystery bag of entertainment.

“It constantly re-invents itself every year,” says David Jordan, Executive Director of the Vancouver Fringe Festival. “We can’t get stale because of the way we program the festival. When you’re drawing artists out of a hat, you’ll never get stuck in a rut.”

The festival’s evolutionary tree has branches sprouting in every direction, with one attractive limb being the Fringe Bar. It accommodates performers, spectators, and anyone else seeking a thirst-quencher and an experience.

“Fringe Festival in Canada is very artist-centric and there are a lot of touring artists,” said Jordan. “So we needed to give these people some place to hang out — and beer was a natural fit.”

The Fringe Bar humbly began at Planet Bingo and the Legion on Mount Pleasant. In 2007, the Fringe community moved outside and incorporated live music to the social heartbeat. Dan Mangan performed that year and since then the Fringe Bar became a permanent fixture. It got spectators moving and offered an experience that extended beyond the theatre seats.

“It’s amazing playing for theatre people, because they like to get theatrical,” said Tristan Orchard, a local DJ and musician. “They’re pretty much my favourite audience to play for, because everyone is performing and they have that post-performance good vibes.”

photo by Lachlan McAdam

In 2009, Railspur Alley became the festival’s central hub. Outdoor stages and bright lights fashioned onto the tree canopies created a starlit atmosphere down the promenade. Festival goers, performers, and passersby alike can enjoy the high calibre artists, while getting a little pick-me-up at one of Granville Island’s outdoor patios.

Outdoor patios? In September? Is that another joke?

Weather-pending is something Vancouverites hear often, but anything goes during the festival. The outdoor components for the Fringe Bar were incorporated in 2010, after witnessing other successful beer gardens at Fringe Festivals across the country.

“I was always a little wary,” said Jordan. “It’s September. Can we get people to be hanging outdoors? It’s going to rain. But it’s awesome.”

Curse the rain all you want, but one of Jordan’s favourite Fringe memories happened during a rainstorm. It was 1 a.m., a cabaret show just ended, and a torrential shower had the city drenched. Undaunted, Jordan accompanied by his Fringe confidants, in true West Coast spirit, dove into the bar with a splash.

“There was a huge puddle, 12-feet long,” said Jordan, “and a foot deep at some places. I looked at it and was like ‘We are going to be dancing in that puddle for sure.’ And within 20 minutes, everyone was in that puddle. It was a great time. There was a kind of spontaneous exuberance to that.”

“It was a monsoon,” said Orchard, who remembered performing during the storm. “It was just a great experience where people decided to forget about the rain, dance in puddles, and slide across tables. Everyone was completely soaked. It was just a beautiful moment where everyone lost themselves and it was just a wonderful time.”

Promoting impulsiveness and spontaneity is all part of the Entertainment Coordinator’s job. Taking the helm at this year’s Fringe Festival is Corbin Murdoch, who knows that first-class preparation is foremost when it comes to quality improvisation.

“We anticipate spontaneity and we anticipate a diverse crowd each and every night,” said Murdoch. “On the back end, we need to be as organized as possible so that we can be quick on our feet.”

From September 5 to 15, the St. Ambroise Fringe Bar at Argo Café and the green space nearby will be the Fringe epicenter. New additions to this year’s festival include food carts (La Taqueria, Reel Mac and Cheese, Urban Wood Fired Pizza), square dancing, and the Fringe Talk Show hosted by comedian, Riel Hahn, which features candid conversations with Fringe artists.

So what do you think? Maybe you can help me workshop my opening joke: An actor, a musician, and a dancer walk into the Fringe Bar—(insert your own experience here).

_______________________

The St. Ambroise Fringe Bar is open every day of the Fringe Festival, which runs from September 5 until September 15. The bar’s hours are 7p.m. until late at 1363 Railspur Alley on Granville Island.

The sky is fall-ing

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Braving the end of another year

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in the Other Press. Sept. 2013

Long days, bikini-clad girls, and patio chairs—it’s going to be a while before we see any of those things again. As the change in season becomes more apparent, people are becoming more irritable. The constant rain, the midday darkness, and the approaching end of another year bring a melancholy feeling that is usually accompanied by an unexpected head cold. Summer is gone, but the transition to winter isn’t all mournful and gloomy. Autumn has charming qualities that are worth falling for.

The smell of autumn air, when it’s not yet too cold and still reminiscent of a bygone summer, can refresh the body. Staring off into the distance and seeing the city dappled with red, orange, and yellow, I can’t help but breathe in the sweetness—even though for a moment I want to complain about the chill and the rain. And it’s my right as a Vancouverite to complain, but I won’t, because that won’t change the weather. What I can do instead is dress for the occasion, and autumn happens to be a very fashionable season. Delightful combinations including scarves, toques, and sweaters might not be the same as showing off my beach body, but hey, argyle looks good on me too.

Sure, I wish the freedom of summer would last forever, but deep down inside I know I need the sophistication of autumn to teach me how to grow and become a responsible human being. Classroom lectures and day jobs begin to fill up the time spent basking in the sun, and it’s okay because it’s progress. And then just when you think you’re on a roll and you’re working too hard—Halloween comes out of nowhere and rewards you. Well, lies, it doesn’t come out of nowhere, you’ll have been preparing for it a month beforehand, but your PG-13 costume will be so worth it.

Whether I’m slipping into my Ugg slippers and making some hot chocolate for a long night indoors, or I’m putting on my cardigan to hunt for the perfect pumpkin at the store, autumn fills me with whimsy. As mature as I am, the season still causes me to conjure up some childlike imagination—the kind that says make-believe isn’t completely absurd.

The finest entertainment comes during this time of year, too. No, I’m not just talking about Thanksgiving, family dinners, or other cheesy stuff like that. I’m saying that autumn means movie theatres are removing the disappointing blockbuster flicks and introducing quality ones which will vie for a spotlight during award season. It’s also the best time of year for sport fanatics: hockey, American football, and basketball seasons return, while baseball, Canadian football, and soccer head into playoffs.

Sure, I miss the carefree sunny days of summer, but who has time to mope over our fading tans when we have so much autumn to look forward to?

Artifacts: Vancouver’s Newest Asian Canadian Voice, Janie Chang

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

A profile of Janie Chang by Elliot Chan. An excerpt.
Published in Ricepaper 18.1, Summer 2013

New Town Bakery and Restaurant in Vancouver’s Chinatown roared with conversations and kitchen clamour, filling the dining area with a familiar ambient. As a plate of dumplings arrived, Janie Chang perked up in her seat, smiled and insisted that we share. “You are supposed to share when you are Chinese,” she said.

It was this old habit that fuels Chang’s writing. Her need to share the stories her father had told her and to help it pass on to the next generation of eager listeners, the same way it was handed down to her. But another driving force for Chang’s debut novel Three Souls, published by Harper Collins in August 2013, is guilt, a simple emotion that can linger for a lifetime. “I had the benefit of growing up and listening to those stories,” she said, “and having a strong sense of family continuity. My nieces and nephews never got that chance. I documented them. Spoken word is an ephemeral medium, if you don’t document them, then they will never know those stories.” With a fear of remorse leering over her, writing became the moral thing to do.

–

For the full article, buy the issue.

Autosave

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

The memory on our hard drive versus the memory in our head

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in The Other Press. Sept. 2013

About 200 years ago, the first photograph was taken and a new human obsession was born. The fascination with capturing “the moment” has travelled through time and led us here to a digital world where Facebook contains over 240-billion photographs. So what is it like living on a planet where 350-billion photos are taken annually worldwide in addition to the over 3.5-trillion already in existence? My guess is that those poses, those beautiful views, and those first steps by little baby Susan will inevitably be lost beneath all the other mundane images out there.

Remember Kodak moments, when every photo taken was an investment for the future and a memory worth sharing? I do. When I was young, my family only brought out the analogue camera for special occasions such as birthday parties, vacations, or school performances. I wasn’t allowed to touch it until I was 10-years-old, because memories were precious and my mother would always fear overexposure. Film was pricey, developing it even more so—my parents knew certain things were worth the cost and others weren’t.

Hard drive spaces are cheap and getting cheaper. Soon we’ll be able to upload our lives onto a terabyte external hard drive, plug it into to a projector, and have all our memories play out during our funeral. Our loved ones can gather around crying and laughing about our tomfoolery and our bits of achievements. But what substance do those images really have for us during the course of our lives?

Sometimes I look at pictures of myself; it might be me during a night out with friends, or maybe a group photo with my family. Oftentimes, I come away with a vague memory, like waking up in the morning and trying to recollect a dream. There are just so many—how can I be certain that I’m even remembering correctly?

We have all become photojournalists, reporting on and documenting our own lives. But can it be that the more we capture to showcase, the more we are losing for ourselves? The more we rely on the memories of a machine, the more we inhibit the capacity of our own brains.

During a vacation to Kelowna this year, my mother insisted that I take as many pictures as possible—for the sake of my family. I was unenthused by the idea of being my mother’s personal cameraman. Instead of enjoying the scenery or the moment, she was too busy trying to capture “the moment.” There is still a slight social stigma for those who hurry about taking pictures in situations that don’t call for it, but the taboo is quickly fading. The moments are becoming less and less valued, because apparently they’re everywhere now. The food we eat, a ray of sun through the trees, and of course little Susan’s first steps are now all worth the same 8.4 megapixels, but how do they really measure in our memories?

All the photography apps on our smartphones are making it harder and harder to keep track of which images we want to frame and which are disposable. Find time, sit down, go through all the pictures in your life, and ask yourself, “Do I remember this?” Then separate the images into two piles: the yes and the no. See which one you have more of, because certain things shouldn’t be automatic.

Utilizing Douglas College’s free peer tutoring service

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Improving your grades with a little help from a friend

By Elliot Chan, Staff Reporter

Formerly published in The Other Press. Sept. 6, 2013

The Douglas College Learning Centre starts off every semester by recruiting new peer tutors. The number fluctuates between 20 and 35 peer tutors, which means there is often a waiting list for students who need assistance. The Learning Centre hires accordingly, depending on the courses offered at the college. Biology 1000, Chemistry 1000, and English 1130 tend to require extra-curricular help, and the centre often seeks students with expertise in those areas.

“My opinion of a quality peer tutor is one who is very high achieving,” said Holly Salmon, Learning Centre coordinator. “They are independent learners or someone who loves to learn. But when I ask peer tutors who they want as a part of their team, they say they want someone fun, has a lot of team spirit, and someone who is serious about school.”

The service is free for any students enrolled in a credit course at Douglas. Peer tutors offer two types of sessions: the weekly one-hour session allows students and peer tutors to sit down once a week to go over homework, assignments, and lecture notes. These one-hour meetings are limited, and sometimes require a waiting list. The other option is a “Quick Question” 25-minute drop-in session that offers students the opportunity to ask one key question about their studies.

“Our expectation is that you come in when you hit a wall,” said Salmon, “and you want help.”

Students who have high academic standards and want to share it with the community can also apply to be a peer tutor before or after receiving recommendations from an instructor.

“We have students that come in to apply and we ask them to provide names of two faculty references,” said Salmon. “I get emails from instructors a lot actually, ‘so and so came in and talked to me and I support them.’”

The Learning Centre has certain requirements for students who want to be peer tutors, such as being a registered student in at least one credit course at Douglas, and a B-average or better in 12 credits in Douglas College or equivalent courses.

“We have two weeks of training before you can tutor,” said Salmon. “You have readings, activities, and you sit in on other sessions to observe more experienced tutors. After that I speak with you and ask how you are feeling and see if you need more training—nobody ever says they need more training. By the time they are done they are ready to sit with a student. Throughout the term they get 2 and a half more hours of training every week.”

Peer tutors receive benefits for their assistance, including $11.20/hour, health and welfare, and a College Reading and Learning Association certificate, which is a professional certificate in three levels that allows peer tutors to tutor independently or at other institutions without extra training.

Application forms and more information about becoming a peer tutor can be found online at http://www.douglas.bc.ca/services/learning-centre/about/tutor.html. Job postings can be found on the Douglas College job board.

If you are seeking a peer tutor to help with you academic needs, please visit http://www.douglas.bc.ca/services/learning-centre/tutoring.html for more information.

Bell Media Launches New One-stop Car Resources Website, Autofocus.ca

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

On July 24, Bell Media announced the launch of their new Autofocus website, Autofocus.ca. The site offers research, review tools, and consumer resources in both English and French.

Whether you are a first time car buyer or an experienced gear head, Autofocus is built to enhance your car shopping experience in Canada. The easy-to-use and visually-pleasing website supplies helpful assistance auto experts, including advices and reviews, car buying tips and tricks, coverage of major auto shows, consumer reports, leasing and financing guides.

Autofocus also includes integrated research tools, user community profiles and social tools to help with the sometimes-overwhelming process of selecting a vehicle.

“Not every car buyer makes a purchase with the same level of knowledge or experience. With this in mind, Bell Media set out to build an automotive resource that offers a tailored car shopping experience with a best-in-class user interface,” said Catherine MacLeod, Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. “Informative and engaging, Autofocus is reinventing how people manage their car shopping experience. Autofocus is a valuable and convenient resource for Canadians making a new purchase, thinking about changing models, or just simply interested in cars.”

Autofocus has created a community of car owners helping each other make the best decision with the big purchase. Not every vehicle is suited for every person’s lifestyle and individual needs. With reviews, news, photos, videos and how to advices all in one location, Autofocus can help drivers find some wheels without any regrets and frustration.

Autofocus has picked out a team of auto experts and award-winning contributors and auto writers from Automobile Journalist Association of Canada: Jil McIntosh, Antoine Joubert, Matt Bubbers, Nadine Filion, Benoit Charette, Daniel Rufiange, and Howard Elmer. With their expertise and guidance you’ll be able to hit the road and get where you need to be without any detours—at least none in the purchasing process.

Android Users Can Now Channel Surf with Telus’ New Optik TV Remote App

December 27, 2013December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

This week, the Optik Smart Remote app developed by Telus became available for Android devices.

Searching for quality television can often be an ordeal. You often leap from one channel to the next without ever settling on anything. You mash the buttons on your remote, scrolling down the guide hoping that something of quality would appear—maybe it does or maybe it doesn’t, but either way what was supposed to be a relaxing evening on the couch becomes a stressful, indecisive night.

Telus Opitk Smart Remote app will replace the traditional guide on the TV. Instead of using the remote control that came with the television or the digital box, you can simply swipe your Android phone and browse the guide and tap on your desired channel to watch your show.

Optik Smart Remote app allows you to track your favourite shows and see what is the most popular. You will also be able to navigate through the interactive program guide on your device, search IMDB, Wikipedia and Youtube without interruption.

“With Optik Smart Remote, it’s quick and easy to find the best thing to watch—and it’s now available for both Apple and Android devices,” said David Fuller, Telus’ chief marketing officer. “Our goal is to continue providing our Optik TV customers with a richer TV experience. Optik Smart Remote takes that experience to the next level. A tap or swipe of the fingers on your smartphone or tablet lets you control your TV without interrupting or missing a moment of your favourite program, plus you can easily set and manage your recordings at home or on the go, meaning you won’t miss out on any of your favourite shows even if you’re away from home.”

The free app is now available for Apple and Android devices and contains multiple enhancements, including new channel scroll bar, PVR recording enhancement that gives users the capability to filter and sort shows by dates, series or titles.

Currently Telus Optik TV offers over 620 channels, including 160 HD channels.