The remote revolutionized the way we watched TV, it turned a busy hard working man into a couch potato every evening. The Universal Remote control has now taken centre stage in our lives, from controlling the TV, to DVR, Lighting, curtains and so on. However juggling through these components on a single device could mean you will need a PhD to operate them. Many manufacturers have tried keeping it simple, some bizarre with many buttons and many times even touchscreen enabled. But now designer find that the mobile phones are the ideal solution to be used in the home or office scenario as a remote to every gadget available. The launch of new touch enabled phones has made it easier to control numerous devices from one point, and that seems to be prevalent thought resonating in the minds of software vendors.

However, if all the members of the family have a remote control in their hands, who gets to decide what to watch? In any case the outlook for most Universal remotes appears bleak.

Via [NY Times]