Articles and whitepapers

The Evolution of the Remote Control (4/1/2005)

By Petra van Meeuwen, Crestron UK

When was the last time you turned over the TV or operated your DVD player manually - i.e. without the remote? A long time ago, I bet. In fact most of us would be lost without remote control in the home. We have come to rely on it, which is why we get so frazzled when a handset gets wedged down the back of the sofa and we cannot find it. In fact, the power of the remote control handset in the modern home has been likened to that of the King's Mace in a mediaeval castle!

Although it is now an indispensable part of the modern home, the first use of remote control was for military purposes. During the First World War, the German Navy used radio-controlled boats to ram enemy ships. In the late forties, scientists in the United States began experimenting with non-military uses for remote control and invented the automatic garage door opener. In the 1950s, the first TV remote controls appeared.

The great advantages of operating devices by remote control are convenience and savings in both time and effort. Turning the TV over from the comfort of your armchair, selecting the right music to suit your mood, dimming the bedroom lights before sleep, or opening your garage door without leaving the car - are all much easier to do by just pushing a button.

Infrared

The TV-style remote is the most common example of the infrared (IR) remote control. The remote transmits a tone using an infrared LED and this tone is decoded by the receiver. The receiver only switches when it 'hears' the tone, so operation is completely fail-safe. Used for most consumer electronic devices such as TVs, HiFis and DVDs, the IR remote has its limitations. In its most basic form it cannot operate when something is blocking the infrared beam, and only works when pointed directly at the device. This shortcoming has led to the development of room-based solutions that 'spray' the IR signal around to allow easier control of all IR devices within a room. In addition, to reduce remote handset 'clutter,' manufacturers have developed a product which can now replace all the separate device handsets with just one 'universal' remote controller.

The Crestron ML-500 Remote Control

RF wireless

RF wireless provides complete freedom of movement unencumbered by the entanglement of wires or the line-of-sight limitations of IR. RF wireless technology affords an operational range of several hundred feet using a single RF 'gateway.' Range is easily extended by distributing multiple gateways throughout a structure. The gateway provides the communications link between the control system and several handheld remotes. There are control systems available on the market which have a built-in RF gateway, offering a very economical control system solution when paired with a compatible handheld remote.

Colour touchpanel

In recent years, the installation of a home network, whether wired, wireless or a combination of the two, has opened up a whole new dimension to remote control in the home. This is a home network that offers the potential to control all the separate elements of the modern home - lighting, security, entertainment and heating - from anywhere in the home. The installation of a home network system is all about convenience, and that convenience has to start with the way in which the customer operates the system. An intuitive user interface, such as a touchpanel, is the perfect way to integrate and access these various systems in a user-friendly way.

Both personal and portable, the latest generation of wireless touchpanels are designed for use with Windows. A number of manufacturers have embedded PC applications into their touchpanels that allow the user to access the Web using Internet Explorer, view streaming media through Windows Media Player, manage email using MS Inbox, and view popular file formats including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat - all while providing easy control of every system in the home, from audio and video distribution to lighting, temperature and security. It really could not be more convenient or simpler to use. The embedded Windows operating system inside some of the best touchpanels is totally locked-down, eliminating the chance of downloading viruses or mistakenly writing over files - all while providing WPA-ready (WiFi Protected Access) WiFi compatibility for reliable two-way high-speed communications through any IEEE 802.11b or g wireless network.

Far more than a mere tablet PC, these touchpanels are ingeniously designed to provide a powerful IP-based mobile control solution in a compact package that is easy to hold and intuitive to use, and shifts effortlessly from tabletop to laptop use. The Crestron TCMP-10 touchpanel for example, is also designed to achieve an optimal viewing angle under any use, with programmable hard buttons and an integrated thumbpad for tactile control of audio volume, channel selection, on-screen menu navigation of DVD, and even pan/tilt cameras. Placing the touchpanel into its optional docking station provides a convenient charging solution with simplified connectivity to any wired USB mouse and keyboard.

The Crestron TPMC-10 colour touchpanel

Waterproof

A recent addition to the market is the waterproof RF wireless remote. Dubbed the 'Remote on a Rope,' this product is completely immersible - providing control where no remote has gone before. Bearing in mind the number of manufacturers offering TVs in the bath panels, it is about time there was a remote that had this capability!

The Crestron Remote on a Rope

Classic 'clickers'

There are, of course, also available an assortment of straight-forward pushbutton handhelds and tabletop RF wireless remotes. These remote controllers employ a variable layout of miniature pushbuttons with up to 48 buttons possible. Faceplates and buttons are available in a variety of colours, allowing for intermixing of different coloured buttons on a single remote. Custom engraving of the faceplate is also an option.

Conclusion

Today's complex homes require both sophisticated new technology and the power to control it. Yet, at the same time, it must be easy to use and fit comfortably into the decor. For security, comfort, convenience, and entertainment in every room of your home, total remote control is available now. And with a range of stylish designs and inventive features, there is a handheld remote for every application.

Petra van Meeuwen is the PR Manager for Crestron UK Ltd, manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems.

www.crestron.co.uk