I’ve taken this one to the next level – sort of… I took the remotes at home, grabbed a sharp exacto blade, and sliced off all the buttons I don’t need or want flush with the surface of the remote. They are all still there if I want to use them, but it keeps me from hitting them accidentally…
If both of these remotes are needed to operate one system (as I assume is the case, since one remote controls the TV and volume and the other controls the channels), this could be taken one step further by getting a universal remote or *something* to control both what gets played and how loud it will be, then applying this same treatment to that one remote.
Also, I meant the remote on the left, the TV remote. I was so excited about pointing out how to do this better that I temporarily forgot how to tell left from right.
So often I’ve thought about a functional yet simple remote for grand/parents (programmable by someone technical for their particular setup) — biggest problem being setting the correct input for all the g’d set top boxes; even cable now requires them (and its own remote; Comcast recently made their own “digital switch” last month that requires a separate box in their city; no more TV tuner function at all).
I want a remote wherein one can push “Cable TV”, and it turns on the TV (or leaves on), sets Ch.3 or other input, and ensures that Channel/Volume/other buttons now only control the cable box and not the TV (otherwise getting static). Even masking off the remote buttons above, it’s too easy for things to get “out-of-sync”. I haven’t been able to think up a universal remote sequence that ensure all the correct settings, as most TVs just have a “toggle power” / “switch-input-to-the-next-one” instead of separate “power-tv-on” / “switch-to-input-2” / “power-tv-off” commands — grr…
Every 6mo visit entails illustrative & laminated direction cards and training (which is quickly lost) to navigate cable/satellite, DVD, and VCR functions (all entailing using different remotes or a single remote which must be put into different modes for each step: press TV button, press power, press 3, press enter, press Cable, press power, press channel or volume; press power, press TV, press power — if you get static, press TV button, press 3, press enter, press Cable, press channel …)
Why the $#@! is there an “eject” button on the DVD remote ??
This is an awesome idea I used it with my mothers remotes so she’d stop calling me at work. Pissed her off but oh well better for me lol
Simplify it.
Infidel could get a lot more hitables if he applied this technology to women. It would need only one cutout near the bottom.
Scott thats a good idea
itsn’t there a religion that does that?
I need to make one of those for my wife. I love a call saying that the ‘tv doesn’t work.’
It really is much more practical that people realize.
I’m thinking that this idea could be used for battery powered dildos.
This has always been a big gripe with me – these things are way overengineered!
You could program the frikken Death Star with most of these!
that one on the right is the same as the original xbox remote, no?
I’ve taken this one to the next level – sort of… I took the remotes at home, grabbed a sharp exacto blade, and sliced off all the buttons I don’t need or want flush with the surface of the remote. They are all still there if I want to use them, but it keeps me from hitting them accidentally…
utterly brillant!
I’m planning on buying a cheap universal remote for Mom and crazygluing all the dangerous buttons and coloring them black.
It should be more like, Brain off. Mute for commercials. The # of adult channels. A pouch for a condom.
I think I used to have that remote on the right.
If both of these remotes are needed to operate one system (as I assume is the case, since one remote controls the TV and volume and the other controls the channels), this could be taken one step further by getting a universal remote or *something* to control both what gets played and how loud it will be, then applying this same treatment to that one remote.
Seriously, people.
Also, I meant the remote on the left, the TV remote. I was so excited about pointing out how to do this better that I temporarily forgot how to tell left from right.
So often I’ve thought about a functional yet simple remote for grand/parents (programmable by someone technical for their particular setup) — biggest problem being setting the correct input for all the g’d set top boxes; even cable now requires them (and its own remote; Comcast recently made their own “digital switch” last month that requires a separate box in their city; no more TV tuner function at all).
I want a remote wherein one can push “Cable TV”, and it turns on the TV (or leaves on), sets Ch.3 or other input, and ensures that Channel/Volume/other buttons now only control the cable box and not the TV (otherwise getting static). Even masking off the remote buttons above, it’s too easy for things to get “out-of-sync”. I haven’t been able to think up a universal remote sequence that ensure all the correct settings, as most TVs just have a “toggle power” / “switch-input-to-the-next-one” instead of separate “power-tv-on” / “switch-to-input-2” / “power-tv-off” commands — grr…
Every 6mo visit entails illustrative & laminated direction cards and training (which is quickly lost) to navigate cable/satellite, DVD, and VCR functions (all entailing using different remotes or a single remote which must be put into different modes for each step: press TV button, press power, press 3, press enter, press Cable, press power, press channel or volume; press power, press TV, press power — if you get static, press TV button, press 3, press enter, press Cable, press channel …)
Why the $#@! is there an “eject” button on the DVD remote ??
-e