A Japan-based company is teaming up with Keio University to develop software for mobile phones that will allow smartphones to function as universal remotes for multiple home electric appliances such as TVs and air conditioners. The system is targeted at elderly people who are confined to the bed and also seriously disabled folks. The system consists of a smartphone and an infrared communication module with the infrared signals emitted from the remote of each home electric appliance pre-registered in the system. It’s designed so that even people who have difficulty in moving body parts other than their fingers are expected to find it possible to use the phone as a remote.
Note: Picture for illustration purposes only.