Turning Off TV

DoctorDowntime · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 22 Location: California, USA

I'm not sure how it's possible for someone to get a patent for creating a device that is merely a subset of what is already existent within most universal remote controls (just enough of the circuitry from a universal remote to contain and process the POWER OFF/ON codes for most remote TV devices), but it seems that is what Mitch Altman was able to do. And good for him (and all of us).

Perhaps it is merely that these elements have never been isolated into so small a package before, that gives it the ability to be considered a "unique invention".

In any case, while I am ever-glad that Mr. Altman has created the TVBG (and *I* certainly have had no shortage of enjoyment from it), I would not consider it an "invention" in the strictest (think Thomas Edison, e.g.) sense of the word, but a re-packaging of technology that has been out for many years. In the mid-90's, I had much the same effect on TVs with a CASIO LCD watch /remote that had to be programmed for the codes you wanted to send, depending on the manufacturer of the TV.

You'd go through a laborious sequence where you'd one-by-one change the codes by button-scrolling through the POWER OFF codes until you found one that hit. When you had found it, it was also then programmed for all the other codes to operate that *particular* set, volume, channel changing, VCR play, etc. It seems that the TVBG is only different in that it is limted to only the POWER OFF/ON codes, and it has automated the process of running through the codes (the 69 seconds) that one used to have to do manually.

The TVBG: Not new technology, but still neat technology.

~Doctor Downtime
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Doctor Downtime says:

"Turn it off, and go outside. Your Real World adventures await you!"
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