Jean-Claude Junqua, Dr. of Engineering, was present to show off something that Panasonic has in research and development: a new type of universal remote control concept. There were two models being shown, with slightly different treatment, and at least one of them was a functional prototype, as I observed it being demonstrated.
So, what's special about this universal remote? It's rectangular, like most remotes are, but instead of having a wide variety of buttons all over it, it has only five or six buttons located in the center of the controller, flanked by two large glidepoint areas. These areas can be used for different things, based on what you're trying to do and even how you're holding the remote. Turn the remote sideways so that your thumbs are in the glidepoint areas and you can do text entry as if you were "texting" someone. While there are no markings on the remote control itself, the system includes a video overlay that shows what your options are (such as the keys of the keyboard when entering text) as well as indicating where your thumbs are in relation to the keys. In order to type a key, you move your thumbs until the thumb indicator is above the desired key on the on-screen display and then you press down on the glidepoint to press that key. In this way, you never have to look down at the remote and any mapping that is desired can be done, without an upgrade to the hardware. At this time, this is pure research and development. This could end up on store shelves as a universal remote with a set-top box that handles the video overlays or could be included into the design of some other product. Or, it is possible that it will never see the light of day. But, it does have potential.
