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A universal remote is a Remote Control that can be programmed to operate various brands of one or more types of Consumer Electronics devices. Low-end universal remotes can only control a set number of devices determined by their manufacturer, while mid- and high-end universal remotes allow the user to program in new controls codes to the remote. Many remotes sold with various electronic devices include universal remote capabilities for other types of device, which allow the remote to control other devices beyond the device it came with. For example, a VCR remote may be programmed to operate various brands of Television s. Because programming a universal remote can be a fairly complex procedure, it is most often performed by technically-minded individuals, although non-technical users can often operate the remote after it has been programmed. Device based Most universal remotes sold today are device based. When using this type of remote the user presses a button associated with the desired device to control and then uses the remaining buttons to control that single device. To start controlling another device the user presses a different device button and the remote then starts sending command to the new device. Typical mode buttons on this type of remote might be labeled "TV", "DVD", "Receiver", etc. An example of a device based-only remotes are the inexpensive and widely available generic several-in-one replacement remotes. Activity based Some universal remotes work on the concept of activities. Instead of the user controlling each device individually they instead focus on the 'activity' that they want to perform. For example they might want to 'Watch a Movie', 'Listen to Music', or 'Watch TV' When a particular activity is selected the universal remote may send out the necessary command to various devices to turn on and to configure device to accomplish the desired activity. For example selecting a 'Watch a movie' activity might turn on the TV, configure the TV to the DVD video input, turn on the amplifier, configure the amplifier to the DVD audio input, turn on the DVD player, and start the DVD playing. One of the most popular activity based remotes is the Logitech Harmony or Home Theater Master line of remotes. Most Activity-Based remotes are also able to work as device-based Remotes, as Activity-Based remotes are generally device-based at the core with complex macros to control "Activities" HISTORY The first universal remote was introduced by Philips through Magnavox. In 1987, the first programmable universal remote control was released. It was created by CL 9 , a startup founded by Steve Wozniak , the Inventor of the Apple II . SIGNALS Some high end universal remotes can also send all commands via RF to a base station and then send IR to those devices that need it from the base. This removes the line of sight requirements normally needed by IR only remotes. UPGRADABLE AND LEARNING REMOTES Some universal remotes allow the Code Lists programmed into the remote to be updated to support new brands or models of devices not currently supported by the remote. Some lower end universal remotes accomplish this by allowing audible signals to be sent over a telephone to a receiver on the remote. If the remote user calls customer service, an operator can have the caller place the remote next to the phone's speaker and then send a signal over the telephone to upgrade the remote for any requested new brand of model of supported device type. Fancier models allow codes to upgraded by connecting the remote to a personal computer. A group of Hacker s discovered that universal remotes made by UEI and sold under the One For All, Radio Shack , and other brands can be reprogrammed by means of an interface called JP1 . IR learning remotes can learn the code for any button on many other IR remote controls. This functionality allows the remote to learn functions not supported by default for a particular device. A drawback of this approach is that the learning remote needs a functioning teaching remote. Also, some entertainment equipment manufacturers use pulse frequencies that are higher than what the learning remote can detect and store in its memory. SPECIAL FEATURES Special features found on some universal remotes are:
TOUCH-SCREEN REMOTES These remotes feature an LCD screen that can be either monochrome or full color. The 'buttons' are actually images on the screen which, when touched, will send IR signals out to control devices. Some models have multiple screens that are accessed through buttons on the touch-screen and other models have a combination of the touch-screen and "hard" (traditional) buttons. Some models of the touch-screen remotes are programmed using a graphical interface program on a PC, which allows the user to customize the screens, backgrounds, buttons and even the 'actions' the buttons perform. The 'project' that is created is then downloaded into the remote through a USB cable or, in the most recent models, wirelessly. The very newest touch-screen remotes include wireless signals to allow signals to locations much farther than the usual range (approximately 20' ) of IR. EXTERNAL LINKS
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