Universal's Mosaic Runs All Home Entertainment Devices

Staff On Jan 6 2001 - 8:00am

CYPRESS, CALIF. -Universal Electronics is set to debut at the 2001 International CES its Mosaic Touch Screen Remote, a hand-held remote control that can run every entertainment device in the home, the company said.

Mosaic, which is designed to be an essential tool for the convergence of television and the Internet, is the first generation of a product that will eventually run an entire home, including lights, heating, alarms, oven and washing machine. It controls household entertainment devices via a touch-screen pad that also serves as a monitor, and it allows individuals watching a TV show together to personalize their interactive TV experiences.

With Mosaic, consumers can personalize screens to access and operate any home entertainment system according to their needs, and they can personalize their features right on the remote, rather than using complicated personal computer editing programs and a connection cord.

The unit has the world's largest infrared code library, said Universal, so it's compatible with virtually everything. It offers dynamically generated keys for up to 15 devices, device setup, home theater mode, help screens, user feedback, consumer lock, low-battery indicator and nonvolatile memory.

Mosaic offers a learning feature, up to 21 macro keys, key mover, key magic and alpha/numeric symbol keyboard. Its shape and size allow for comfortable one- or two-hand use. The touch screen is a 4.6-inch diagonal, and it offers four LEDs.

Mosaic is being sold as the Director Advanced Touch Remote at major CE specialty stores for a suggested $399 retail.