SevenHugs takes to crowdfunding to bring the world its universal remote-- the Smart Remote, a touchscreen-equipped number able to geolocate individual devices, allowing customers to control whatever they want by simply pointing the remote.
First seen back at CES 2016, the Smart Remote uses a combination of built-in motion tracking and three wall-mounted sensors (included) to triangulate its position within a room and "know" what device it is being pointed at. As a result it should be able to tell between a between a TV, smart bulb and audio system, and the touchscreen switches control interface accordingly.
Initial setup comes through companion app, and the company says the remote is already compatible with over 25000 wifi, Bluetooth and IR devices, including Samsung Smart TVs, Philips Hue smart bulbs, Sonos speakers, the Nest thermostat. In addition it can pair with IFTTT-enabled smart home hubs such as the Winks and SmartThings, and an open API allows vendors to easily add support.
Another interesting feature has the Smart Remote play nice with other apps and services, meaning one can have it show a weather forecast when pointing at a window or Uber details when pointing it a door.
Charging comes through included USB-C cradle complete with a button to help users find a lost Smart Remote by having it emit a locate tone. However one has to keep in mind the Smart Remote is usable in a single room, since it operates solely when in range of the 3 aforementioned sensors.
The Sevenhugs Smart Remote is currently available on a preorder basis via Kickstarter, with shipments set to start on June 2017.