Remote Control
Wireless HDMI solution from Gefen
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Cords and wires are the bane of any technophile’s existence. They are a pain to set up and inevitably form an unruly tangle that's just plain messy. The introduction of HDMI went a long way to reducing the unsightly clutter running from behind the lounge room AV set up by combining high definition sound and video in one convenient cable. But now connectivity solutions company Gefen has gone one step further with their Wireless for HDMI Extender, which comprises a local sender unit which is paired to a receiver unit at a remote location. Read More
The MX-6000 RF and WiFi capable universal remote
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The MX-6000 touch-screen remote control provides users with access to their media library - including data on their PC and iPod - using both a narrow band 418 MHz transmitter and an 802.11 B/G WiFi transceiver. This makes it the first control to offer two independent communications and control methods simultaneously. Read More
Wrex the robot dog
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Based on a similar concept to the now defunct Aibo, Wrex The Dawg is the latest robo-pet from WowWee and his moods are distinctive. Ill-mannered Wrex was styled using discarded mechanical and electrical parts and is designed to be any kid’s mischievous robotic pal. Read More
Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker
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There's nothing like strapping on the earphones and cranking up your favorite tunes to help you through a serious bout of exercise, but in many outdoor scenarios, especially cycling, this can become a major safety risk by preventing you from hearing traffic noise and other potential hazards that might not be visible. This is the thinking that inspired Los Angeles entrepreneur Jeff Lotman to invent the Cy-Fi Bluetooth wireless sports speaker, a palm-sized unit that attaches to a bike or backpack and wirelessly transmits music and phone calls from Bluetooth enabled devices. Read More
Fat Shark's first person RC racer
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June 16, 2008 This all-in-one RC vision system bundles a set wearable VR display glasses and a 4WD remote controlled car equipped with an on-board camera to deliver a drivers-eye view of the action. We've encountered realtime RC systems before, but what grabs us about this incarnation is the gyro-controlled pan-tilt tracking mechanism that's integrated into the camera mount so you can alter the camera direction with your head movement. Read More
Realtime video goggles put R/C plane pilots in the cockpit
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May 16, 2008 Radio-controlled planes are all about vicariously experiencing the freedom of flight - and with this little device, you move one step closer to feeling like it's you up there soaring between the trees. Pilot View's FPV 2400 is a US$550 add-on that sends video back from the plane in real-time to a set of video goggles so you can fly your plane (or drive your R/C car, or watch your buddy's hang gliding experience) from a first-person view. Read More
Datamatic demonstrate Remote Shutoff Valve system for water utilities
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January 24, 2008 Water utility companies waste significant labor resources each year as staff try to overcome irate customers, vicious canines and difficult to access properties in an effort to disconnect or reconnect water services. Datamatic Ltd. has developed a solution to this problem in the form of its radio-frequency operated RSV™ Remote Shutoff Valve - a system that by-passes the need for physical access to properties, thereby reducing field service costs and preventing theft from inactive services. Read More
Lullabub automatic cot rocker
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December 28, 2007 Nursery rhymes, a gentle lullaby, some desperate parents even drive around the streets in an effort to send baby off to sleep. The “Lullabub” presents an automated solution to this age old problem in the form of a remote controlled rocking system for a baby’s cot (or “crib”) designed to soothe your little one to sleep with a quiet, rhythmic motion.
QinetiQ trials remote-controlled fire fighting vehicles
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December 5, 2007 QinetiQ has developed specialized remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) with fire fighting capabilities that can operate in environments that would be unsafe for firefighters. Currently undergoing a six month trial commissioned by Network Rail and the London Fire Brigade, the vehicles are designed to combat the specific issue of fires close to railway tracks that involve Acetylene cylinders - a problem that has been on the rise in the past year causing major delays to commuters. Read More
CERULEAN F1+TX Bluetooth headphone and transmitter for iPod
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November 3, 2007 iSkin has bundled its TX transmitter and F1 headphones as the CERULEAN F1+TX, a Bluetooth audio package for iPod that enables wireless control and simultaneous connection to a mobile phone. Read More
Gesture recognition yields the virtual remote control
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July 23, 2007 As we move towards the home entertainment systems of the future, we’ll no doubt be looking for more elaborate ways of interacting with these systems than the simple remote control. ‘Wave of the hand ‘ technology is a box that lets television viewers change channels, switch on the DVD player or simply switch off an irritating presenter or program with the wave of a hand. The controller’s built-in camera can recognise seven simple hand gestures and work with up to eight different gadgets around the home. The developers, Dr Premaratne and Quang Nguyen, believe the device could be on sale within three years. Read More
TASER-armed robots keep police out of harm's way
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June 3, 2007 Love them or hate them, TASER stun guns have become an essential and effective part of law enforcement armory. Perhaps their main drawback has been that even the long-range wireless shotgun-mounted TASER XREP puts a police officer within 30 feet of a potentially dangerous suspect before they're in range. Now, a new partnership between TASER and iRobot will see the construction of TASER-wielding robots that can be sent in to incapacitate violent suspects without ever exposing police officers to the risk of harm. What's more, TASER has released their Remote Area Denial (TRAD) system, an unmanned device that operates in a network to identify and incapacitate intruders in secured areas. It all points towards an interesting future with embedded moral implications; how long will it be until suspects are told "you have 15 seconds to comply?" Read More
Remote-controlled robot uses thermal imaging to detect and eradicate termites
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May 8, 2007 Hasta la vista, termites. Due for release later this year, the Termibot carries video and thermal imaging cameras where human pest controllers can't go. When a telltale heat or moisture signature is detected, Termicam breaks termite nests open to confirm the infestation, then pumps pest control chemicals directly into the source. It's an ingenious non-invasive pest control device - but its appeal won't be limited to exterminators. Read More
Vale Robert Adler, 1913-2007 - TV Remote Control Co-Inventor
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February 17, 2007 The man who invented the remote control for the television, Dr. Robert Adler, died this week, giving us a timely reminder of just how fast technology is progressing. Dr. Adler's "Space Command" ultrasonic remote control for TV sets was introduced by Zenith in 1956 and two years later saw him win the 1958 Outstanding Technical Achievement Award of the Institute of Radio Engineers (now the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE) for his "original work on ultrasonic remote controls" for television. Though he was best known as co-inventor of the wireless remote control for television , along with fellow Zenith engineer Eugene Polley), Adler was responsible for a large number of significant scientific contributions to the electronics industry, including landmark inventions in sophisticated specialized communications equipment. Read More
Remote control Robotic Insectoid
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October 27, 2006 Whenever we get shown the next generation of high tech toys we get the feeling we were cheated by having our childhoods a decade or three too soon, and the new N.S.E.C.T. robotic attack creature from Mattel/Tyco had the usual effect. Hot on the heels of last year's smash-hit Toy Industry Association “Boy Toy of the Year" Shell Shocker creature, the latest Tyco R/C creation to emerge from labs is named the N.S.E.C.T. (New Science of Experimental Combat Technology) and features Variable Motion Technology, allowing it to move just like a spider. All six legs work in conjunction with one another to help the N.S.E.C.T. creature scurry across the floor and overcome various obstacles. “Armor plated” and ready to go, the N.S.E.C.T. creature comes equipped with an assortment of weaponry seldom seen in the R/C aisle. Besides its intimidating appearance, the creature also features a pinching claw that allows it to pick up and transport objects. However, its greatest weapon is concealed and with the press of a button, the creature’s eyes change color from a cautionary yellow to an angry red as its wings rise to reveal a hidden cannon that can be adjusted for targeting. Press another button and the N.S.E.C.T. creature fires its six foam suction cup darts in rapid-fire succession or one at a time. The N.S.E.C.T. creature is available in two colors and frequencies (for head-to-head battles or multi-bug attacks) for a suggested retail price of US$100, each sold separately, subject to availability and comes with batteries and a charger. Read More
The SportCommand wireless fabric remote control for an iPod
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October 10, 2006 The Belkin SportCommand for iPod lets you wirelessly control your music while your iPod stays protected. Strap the fabric remote to your arm, store your iPod in your backpack or jacket, and then listen to your audio while you get extreme. The weather-resistant SportCommand is ideal for outdoor activities, such as snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking and with a 50 foot range, it may well have other applications we haven’t yet considered. The US$80 SportCommand will ship in November in North America, with launches in Asia, Europe, and Australia to follow shortly.
The remote control for your cat/dog/horse and maybe even child
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September 10, 2006 Get set for a whole new level of communication with your pet thanks to this remarkable new device, and consider the potential for keeping track of your child. The Hear Now is a new type of communication product for tracking, geo-fencing, lighting up and even communicating with your cat or dog – its attributes are also useful with horses and humans. Companies already track their roadgoing fleets and key assets using GPS but the cost and miniaturisation for this technology now has reached the point where the average person can cost-efficiently track the whereabouts of their pets and loved ones. Location-based GPS tracking services usually employ commercial wireless networks to transmit their position but the Hear Now uses a two-way radio system to transmit the information so there are no ongoing fees. It can track your canine on a map on the handheld up to 12 miles away, and you can also turn on LED lights so you can see him in the dark, and there’s even a call home button that strangers can push to alert you should they find your dog in distress. The first version of the Hear Now will cost US$200 and be available four weeks from now - it does not have the geo-fence or GPS capabilities yet. The company is seeking international distributors. Read More
Remote-Control Pool Skimmer
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September 2, 2006 Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life. Accordingly, if you can find a way of making disagreeable chores fun, you’re well on the way to making your whole life super peachy keen outside of work. We’ve previously written about how to make mowing the lawn fun, and now here’s a way to make skimming the pool equally enticing – so enticing that you might be able to find others to do it for you. The US$140 Jet Net Remote-Control Pool Skimmer removes leaves, and assorted debris from your swimming pool's surface. The two foot long remote-control catamaran runs on 9 volt rechargeable Ni-MH batteries and does all the work while you laze in the sun up to 100 feet away. Via our esteemed colleague Red at the The Red Ferret Journal
Remote-control car with infrared video
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July 11, 2006 Before the Berlin Wall came down, genuinely useful surveillance gear was difficult to procure. With the sudden defrosting of the Cold War, both sides became very commercial and all sorts of previously classified and very clever equipment became not just procurable, but affordable. Nowadays, much of the gadgetry that Q might have handed to 007 a decade or two ago is available, quite literally, at your local toy shop. Wild Planet toys have a complete range of spy gear ideal for indulging a techie’s second childhood but we forsee some delicate problems with the company’s latest creation. The Spy Video Car is a completely silent, remote controlled electric car with a video camera AND infrared night vision that transmits wirelessly to a headset worn by the err … perpetrator. It’s ideal for checking out what’s happening up to 25 metres away and although the sticker says it’s suitable for ages 6 and above, we’re a trifle fearful of what sort of X-rated action an inquisitive mind and the Spy Video Car might find themselves exposed to in mum and dad’s bedroom. The toy uses a high quality OmniVision CMOS image sensor and using the infrared video will transmit a very clear image of the action in complete darkness. Check out the video and images inside. Read More
New kit converts earthmovers to full remote control
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July 7, 2006 If you're a remote control enthusiast seeking the ultimate toy, the birthday present wish list will become frightfully expensive by the end of this paragraph. Defence technology specialist QinetiQ has launched a range of Applique Robotic Kits (ARKs) that convert the current in-service military JCB 4CXM or Caterpillar CAT320B families of vehicles into fully integrated remote controlled units for use by the military in hazardous environments. Operators can be up to a kilometre away and don't even need to directly see the vehicle they are operating, but still have full control of it. By simply flicking a switch, existing vehicles can change between full remote or manual mode, immediately reducing potential dangers to the operators but still enabling it to be fully used for the tasks for which it was designed. Read More
Ruggedised Remote Control Personal Size Lantern
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June 27, 2006 They don’t make ‘em like they used to! Have you ever stepped into your tent at night to try and get that extra jumper, only to trip over your luggage as you try to reach the lantern hanging in the centre? Or have you perched your lantern nice and high above the campsite, only to realise that it is going to be very difficult to reach up and turn the light on and off? Or perhaps got all snug inside your sleeping bag before realising that the lantern needed to be turned off? It’s so clever and logical that you don’t even need to be a camper to appreciate the new 4D Rugged Remote Control Lantern from Coleman. The US$26 lantern features an economical, yet high-powered 7W Fluorescent U-Tube that delivers a bright, white light without generating the excess heat associated with other bulb types, the remote operates up to 15 metres away, and it runs for 14 hours on a set of alkaline batteries. No, they don’t make ‘em like they used to - now they make ‘em much better! Read More
New wireless Pan/Tilt/Zoom IP Camera enables remote-control video through a web browser for US$300
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June 19, 2006 Cisco subsidiary Linksys has announced a wireless Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) internet camera that can send live video and audio via the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world. The WVC200 contains its own IP address, so it doesn’t require an attached PC and easily connects to an existing Ethernet or Wireless network. Up to ten simultaneous users can have remote control of the camera's Pan/Tilt and 2X digital zoom and focus and it comes with the software to enable up to nine cameras to be monitored. The camera can be set up to record to a schedule or if it detects any movement or manually, and it can record to a networked hard drive and there’s even advanced search by time and date and playback on Windows Media Player. You can even set it to email alerts to up to four email addresses with attached video clips if the camera detects any motion. Now none of those capabilities are new, but when they are all bundled for US$299, we’re obviously reaching the point where a whole host of applications that were previously unthinkably cost-prohibitive are now viable. Read More
Completely remote PowerPoint presentation tool
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April 17, 2006 The Powerpoint presentation remains a crucial corporate communication tool and the latest X-Pointer II Wireless presenters look to us to offer a significant advantage over most other presentation devices. Boasting a 50 metre, the US$180 X-Pointer II operating range allow users complete geographic freedom to walk amongst the audience to read the response, while controlling PowerPoint presentations remotely without the need to physically stand by their computers. The wireless mouse and laser pointer weighs in at just 60g but the ability to have 256 MB of built-in flash memory means you can have your presentation in the remote too – great for plug-and-play functionality after last minute adjustments. The built-in memory means users have the ultimate in mobility as they can save their presentations on the unit without the need for additional disks or drives. X-Pointer is seeking international distribution. Read More
Field Tested: Logitech Updates Their Flagship Harmony Remote Control
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January 19, 2006 If you're like us, you probably have a bunch of home theater gear that comes from a bunch of different vendors, and somewhere between three and fifteen remote controls sitting on your coffee table to control them all. Thankfully, Logitech has a line of programmable remote controls that is intended to solve that problem in style. Jeff Marsh took some time to take a look at the Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote and to talk to them about their upcoming Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote (which adds Z-wave technology from Zensys communications instead of IR). Read More
New Samsung Phone with file viewing and remote control functionality
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April 5, 2005 Samsung continued its gargantuan push to turn the mobile phone into the ultimate digital Swiss Army Knife last week when it introduced two new phones to the Korean market with quite intriguing new functionality. The new phones have the potentially very useful capability of viewing all the major document formats (MS Word, MS Excel, PDF, JPG and text files) plus the ability to double as a universal remote control. Oh, and it’s also a 1.3 megapixel camera and comes in anti-bacterial silver – a new nano-particle coating designed to minimise the potential for the phone to carry germs. Read More
Remote control replacements available online
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November 24, 2004 What do you do after the dog uses the remote control as a chew-toy, or it mysteriously disappears when you're moving house? In the digital age remote controls are no longer optional for most home or car entertainment system components - they are the key to full functionality when enjoying music, a DVD, or a commercial-filled TV program. Now an American service from 1-800-Remotes (1-800-736-6837 or http://www.remotes.com/ will replace your original remote control model for full system compatibility and ship worldwide. Read More
Remote Controlled Helicopter with on-board Eyecam
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Here's a novel way to make the most of your valuable time on the coach - the Draganflyer III remote controlled helicopter delivers full aerial manoeuvrability and high-speed flying for around five minutes at a time with the option of adding a micro-video Eyecam... Read More
Remote Control Blimp
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This helium filled 1.3 metre long Blimp has three independently controlled propellers allowing you to spin on the spot, fly in all directions and take off and land vertically using the handheld transmitter. Read More
Eon3 XCam2 Remote Surveillance Camera
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Home automation specialist EON3.com.au sells the XCam2 kit for $279. This includes the camera with built-in transmitter and receiver which connects to your VCR or TV. The unit can transmit around 30 metres and additional cameras can be added for $199 each. Checking who's at the door can be as easy as changing TV channels. Read More
