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