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Everything Remote

multi function device
  (-2)
(-2)
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against]

What I'd like to see is the convergence of all of these features in one device:

mobile phone with text messaging and digi-camera function, TV remote control (actually more like an A/V multi-function), the LCD can also be used to play games (ala Nintendo Gameboy), PDA functions (ala Palm or Handspring), GPS and driving maps/navigator, Wi-Fi internet

h3lix, Feb 18 2003

Ultimate PDA http://www.halfbake...idea/ultimate_20PDA
Maybe this is why snarfyguy demurred. [beauxeault, Oct 04 2004]

Lots-Of-Stuff Walkman http://www.halfbake...-Of-Stuff_20Walkman
Or this. [beauxeault, Oct 04 2004]

Swiss-army Phone http://www.halfbake.../Swiss-army_20Phone
Or this. [beauxeault, Oct 04 2004]

Fingerprint authenticator http://www.pcworld....87526&category_oid=
[angel, Oct 04 2004]

[link]






       Swiss Army PDA? I thought of this a while back, but something held me back from posting it. Thanks...
snarfyguy, Feb 19 2003
  

       Thank you, snarfyguy. Funny thing is that all these devices currently exist seperately. Things are moving this direction anyway. Can anyone add any more functions to this "Everthing Remote?" Please try to suggest existing technology only. That way it seems a bit closer to reality. A cool name would be Athena or Legba.
h3lix, Feb 19 2003
  

       ... and a can opener?   

       "jack of all trades, master of none" - the problem with joining together of all things is convergence.
Cedar Park, Feb 19 2003
  

       Funny thing is they had something like this many years ago, called it "pencil and paper"! You could keep track of names, addresses, and phone numbers, appointments, text messages, play games (tic-tac-toe, hangman), draw driving maps and cool pictures. Best feature of all? No batteries required!   

       OK, I've finished my smug little rant. As for extra features, let's bluetooth the earphones so it stays as wireless as possible. And how about adding an alarm that triggers if it gets stolen? If we have a holster/belt clip arrangement to carry the thing around we could put a sensor in that so the unit shuts itself down and beeps incessantly whenever it is moved more than few meters from its home.   

       What to name it? How about EVE?
Canuck, Feb 19 2003
  

       //Can anyone add any more functions to this "Everthing Remote?"//

By all means, have it activate the garage door, lock or unlock your car doors, prestart the engine, and control the burglar alarm. It can also remotely activate your interior and exterior house lights, and even fire up the furnace or turn on the AC.

At this point this unit is probably going to require a backpack to carry it around. And the User's Manual is going to be a nightmare. I wonder how many people will ever figure out how to program it to turn off their blinking clocks.
jurist, Feb 19 2003
  

       'Dya ever wonder why it's called a "remote" control? I mean, sure, they're often hard to find, but ideally, it's the control unit that is with you, while it's the TV, etc., that's remote.
beauxeault, Feb 19 2003
  

       Why do you want to take your TV handset with you? Are you intending to build the TV into your cell-phone as well?
angel, Feb 19 2003
  

       Surely it's only a matter of time.
snarfyguy, Feb 19 2003
  

       There are 3G (W-CDMA) handsets in proto build that do all this. Not Baked, but cooking ....
8th of 7, Feb 19 2003
  

       <missed my boat>
I was about to say that...
</missed my boat>
Jinbish, Feb 19 2003
  

       Good ideas, jurist. You, too, Canuck, and your "pencil and paper" comment was high humor. :) I guess for a mobile phone, you could always write the message on a paper, then fold it into a paper airplane to send! As to security, how about a biometric fingerprint sensor built into the LCD screen or on the back. I know that this isn't publicly available right now, but it could be very soon. I know I'd buy one.
h3lix, Feb 19 2003
  

       // isn't publicly available right now //   

       Fingerprint sensors are on sale in our local branch of PC World, about GBP £75 per unit; portable, can be used with a laptop. I think they're USB based although I've never looked closely at them.   

       Since this device will have a camera, why not use a retinal scan system ?
8th of 7, Feb 19 2003
  

       £120 including VAT (linky).
angel, Feb 19 2003
  

       Looking at beaux's links, this idea is clearly redundant. I'm not convinced it's really halfbakery material anyway.
waugsqueke, Feb 19 2003
  

       Yes, I concur; but it's also [h3lix]'s first posting, and not a bad one at that, if not original. It has generated some interesting comments, too. Some of them are even relevant to the idea ....
8th of 7, Feb 19 2003
  

       //'Dya ever wonder why it's called a "remote" control? //I always thought it was a comment on the remote's attitude: cold, aloof, detached, occasionally uncooperative. After all, who likes having their buttons pushed all day long?
jurist, Feb 19 2003
  

       //        // isn't publicly available right now //           Fingerprint sensors are on sale in our local branch of PC World //   

       I was referring to having the sensor as part of the LCD display screen. I haven't seen that product yet. Retinal scans trouble me. Sure, it's non-invasive, but I'd wait until users have used the retina scanners for a bunch of years. I guess I'm part Luddite! A very small part, though.
h3lix, Feb 20 2003
  

       // I guess I'm part Luddite! //   

       Don't worry, we take that part out when you receive your Borg implants.   

       [dag] Quite right.
8th of 7, Feb 20 2003
  
      
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