| Fed up with finding the remotes of each | | | | programmed to work on the concept of |
| of your electronic devices, then a | | | | activities and not on the devices. In |
| universal remote control comes as an | | | | this instead of controlling each device |
| easy answer. In general a universal | | | | individually the user can instead focus |
| remote is a remote control that can be | | | | on the activity that they want to |
| easily programmed to operate various | | | | perform. For instance the user might |
| brands and one or more types of | | | | want to watch a movie, or listen to some |
| electronics devices such as TV, music | | | | music, or just watch TV. |
| system, Air-conditioners and many other | | | | It is when a particular activity is |
| devices. | | | | selected the universal remote control |
| Typically, the low-end universal remotes | | | | may send out the necessary signals and |
| can only control a set number of devices | | | | commands to various necessary devices in |
| pre defined by their manufacturer, while | | | | to turn on and to configure device to |
| the mid- and high-end remote controls | | | | accomplish the desired activity. For |
| allow the user to program in new | | | | instance selecting an activity like |
| controls codes to the remote for | | | | watch a movie the remote control might |
| controlling a number of other devices. | | | | turn on the TV, configure the TV to the |
| With the increasing use of these remote | | | | DVD video input, turn on the amplifier, |
| controls many remotes sold with various | | | | configure the amplifier to the DVD audio |
| electronic devices include universal | | | | input, turn on the DVD player, and start |
| remote capabilities for other types of | | | | the DVD playing. One of the most popular |
| device, which allow the remote to | | | | activity based remote controls is the |
| control other devices apart from the | | | | Logitech Harmony line of remotes. |
| device it came with. | | | | The journey with the universal remote |
| The universal remote controls can be | | | | control just doesn't stops there, but |
| broadly classified in two types like | | | | can continue with the up gradations that |
| Device Based Universal Remote Controls | | | | are required with the changing |
| Most universal remotes that are sold | | | | electronic devices. That is why many |
| today are device based and they are | | | | universal controls allow the code lists |
| quite popular. The use of the | | | | programmed into the remote to be updated |
| device-based remote control is simple | | | | to support new brands or models of |
| and the user has to press a button | | | | devices not currently supported by the |
| associated with the desired device to | | | | remote. |
| control and then uses the remaining | | | | Interestingly the lower end universal |
| buttons to control that single device. | | | | remotes accomplish this by allowing |
| Controlling other devices is also simple | | | | audible signals to be sent over a |
| as the remote control identifies the | | | | telephone to a receiver on the remote. |
| other devices when the user presses a | | | | This is applicable when the user calls |
| different device button and then the | | | | customer service, an operator can have |
| remote starts sending command to the new | | | | the caller place the remote next to the |
| device. An example of a device-based | | | | phone's speaker and then send a signal |
| remote is the Home Theater Master line | | | | over the telephone to upgrade the remote |
| of remotes. | | | | for any requested new brand of model of |
| Activity Based Remote Control | | | | supported device type. |
| These types of the universal remotes are | | | | |