A single standard for infra-red remote controls. We have remotes for each of our TVs, VCRs, stereos, microwaves, etc. None interoperate, and we can never find the right remote to go with the right unit. (Though I do now have a single remote that can control TV, VCR and cable.)

If the standard included querying, a remote control (perhaps even a Palm Pilot) could query a given electronic device, then synch up its buttons to match the device.
-- DrCurry, Dec 01 2002

Total Remote http://www.griffint...alremote/index.html
02 Dec 02 | Pocket PC based Total Remote "...comes with device profiles for over 300 devices such as TV, VCR, DVD and more." [bristolz, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

we can rebuild him. we have the technology.
we have the capability to re-make the world's first bionic half-baker man.
-- po, Dec 01 2002


Are you sure that there aren't standard right now? I'm pretty sure that 'universal remote' things exist already, although they're probably not as open as you'd like.
-- sadie, Dec 02 2002


All you need is the ability to set an "address" on each piece of equipment, then have a standard set of codes.

Croissant.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 02 2002


'Universal' remotes have existed for some time, but they're not actually universal. They tend to work only on fairly mass-market brands, not stuff like Grundig, Salora or B&O.
Some manufacturers (Panasonic is one that springs to mind) supply a 'learning' remote which can be programmed with commonly-used functions of your existing unit.
Personally, I find it useful to have different handsets; when copying one tape to another (or tape to or from DVD), I can pause the recording machine while fast-forwarding the playback machine (during the ads).
I like the notion of the handset 'asking' the VCR, "How do I tell you to record?"
-- angel, Dec 02 2002


So there's definitely room for improvement here. Kwassont.
-- sadie, Dec 02 2002


You have a remote control for your microwave? How do you put things in it... is there a little train or something (trains are my solution to oh so many things)
-- Parvenu, Dec 02 2002


Actually, we like to warm our food in the apartment across the way.
-- DrCurry, Dec 02 2002


May I suggest a coherent laser pointer as the transmitter? That way you know what device you're pointing at and there's less chance you'll turn off the lamp when you're trying to adjust the television volume. The controlled device could talk in IR though...

Another way I considered programming the remote was to have it read a 2-D bar code attached to the controlled device (or in the owner's manual).

I wonder if the cost of the tranceiver in the controlled device would be offset by not having to supply a remote control specific to that device. If the tranceiver became cheap enough, someone would begin putting it in lamps, stoves, tubs, clocks, etc. Then you really would have a universal remote.
-- phoenix, May 15 2003


What would be the point of a remote controlled microwave, exactly?
-- croissantz, Sep 08 2007



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