Readers who in the conscious age of the nineties remember the curiosity of the remote control from Japanese color television. Now we cannot surprise us with this device - we control the operation of the air conditioner, player, DVD player, and car lock with it. However, there are still remotes that deserve special attention - universal ones designed for a computer. By the way, your smartphones can also become a full-fledged remote control (remote control).
Remote for computer: functional
What can remote control for PC? For the most part, such devices can replace both the mouse and keyboard. They work perfectly with the OS interface, open programs, manage media files. Using the remote control for a computer is much easier to use the programs Windows Media Center, Nero.
Today, there are four main manufacturers of remotes: VL Systems, Thermaltake, Soundgraph, IRLine. We will conduct a brief tour of their products.
A Variety of PC Remote Controls: An Overview
One of the most famous manufacturers of computer remotes can rightly be called Soundgraph. The corporation produces several types of remote control:
- USB remotes for the computer - communication is established through the USB port.
- IR remote controls - using infrared radiation from a PC, you can control it from a distance of up to 10 m.
- Radio remote controls - control at a distance of no more than 30 m.
Soundgraph releases the appropriate software for the remote control: launching programs, the ability to create folders and shortcuts, linking the device to the keyboard, and much more has become available.
VL Systems manufactures modern M Play computer control panels, which are also equipped with semi-automatic PC fan controllers.
Those who want to support the domestic manufacturer will like IRLine. IR devices of this manufacturer can boast low cost, and they interact with a large number of applications and are able to control IR remote controls from other manufacturers.
Universal remotes
Universal remote control is an independent device, which is purchased separately, and does not come with the "big brother". It is distinguished by the fact that the remote control can control several items of home appliances at once.
Universal remotes differ in the following interface:
- sound adjustment;
- buttons to control the media player;
- keys for switching between devices;
- keys for programming the remote;
- navigation joystick;
- numeric keypad.
More sophisticated models contain the following:
- keys, the purpose of which can be set by the user;
- LCD display
- sometimes - sensory control;
- programming of auto-execution of standard operations;
- the ability to "learn" how to read a new IR signal;
- setup through connection to the PC;
- the possibility of making calls (in case of interaction with a radiotelephone).
Thus, the control can also be a remote control for the TV.
Types of universal remote control
The main types of UPDU are three:
- With presets . The device’s database contains an algorithm for remote control of the equipment, the interaction with which was provided by the manufacturer of the remote control. The user needs to enter a specific code to establish a remote control contact with a specific device.
- With setup through software . The user installs the program that comes with the remote control that comes with the remote control, connects the remote control to the PC, and selects the settings for the necessary devices from the manufacturer’s extensive database. With the help of this program, the remote control "learns" to work with this technique.
- With learning function . The most universal devices - they can perceive, memorize and then play independently signals from the "native" remote control of a particular technique. For "training" it is enough to place these IR remote controls opposite each other. Problems recording information arise only with non-standard "native" IR remotes.
In addition to the ones presented, there are combined universal remote controls - some of the settings are predefined, and some can be added via software; some algorithms can be downloaded through a PC, some can be “learned” from other remotes, etc.
Android as a remote control for PC
You can turn your Android smartphone or tablet into a remote control for your computer using one of the applications:
- Unified Remote . There is both a free and a paid option, however, both of them are able to replace the mouse and keyboard. In addition, the application includes function, numeric and multimedia keys. The user can freely surf from his smartphone in the Start menu, go to the system partitions of disks, launch the task manager and open files and folders. Unified Remote also provides the ability to send your PC to sleep, reboot or shut down. And if the smartphone is equipped with an infrared port, then the application can turn it into a universal remote control.
Ultimate Gamepad . As the name implies, this application is a remote gamepad on the screen of your smartphone with programmable buttons, response time, etc. Connection is configured via Wi-Fi, Bluetooch.
- Remote Mouse Remote control the mouse through wifi. The interface contains many features for comfortable work.
- Max Remote The application not only allows you to control the media player, PC power, navigation in the browser, but also contains a command line, ready-made control schemes, the ability to create programmable gamepads in its functionality.
IPhone Remote Controls
Owners of the iPhone can turn their device into a remote control for the computer, as well as in the remote control:
My Webcam - allows you to remotely control various webcams in the house.
ZooZ Control - turns the phone into a joystick for games on the PC.
AirMote - helps to work with programs and media files on a PC remotely. However, applicable only to Mac computers.
- Keynote Remote is another slide application.
- jfControl - remote work with media players on the Mac.
- EventGhost - turns the gadget into a remote control for home theater systems running Windows.
- Remote - the program allows you to remotely control "iTunes" on any device.
A computer remote control and a universal remote control are devices that make life much easier. With proper setup, they allow you to control all the equipment in the house, as they say, without leaving the couch.