Gadgets You Never Knew You Needed: Universal Remote Control

Let's reminisce, do you remember back in the day before remote controls were invented? To switch channels on a television set you had to physically get up off the couch and turn the dial. Medieval yes, until the wired remote control was introduced in 1950 by Zenith.

By 1955 we had our first "wireless" remote. Slap on the gravy, folks! No more tripping over tangled wires this new fancy gadget even offered the "mute" option button. What a splendid gem of an idea to silence those annoying commercials. Technology progressed a long way since the 1950s, but we went overkill on remotes. From owning only one remote to owning near a half-a-dozen to operate all our entertainment equipment.

Geez Louise!

We use "clickers" for everything: television, DVD player, Blue Ray disk player, satellite dish, DVR, TiVo, amplifiers, home theater systems, you get the gist.

There's a unique gadget that can uncomplicated the clutter to which you can program all of your electronics remotes into one, introducing the All-In-One Universal Remote. With this amazing gadget remote you can program to control to up to nearly twenty remote controls. Why oh why don't you own one?

There is a downside however, you knew that was coming. Some brands are difficult to program not exactly user friendly. If you believe such a cool gadget will cost an arm and a leg to own, not really, however the more remote controls you need to program into an all-in-one remote gadget the price will increase.

Still there are affordable universal remote gadgets at a great savings. The Universal Remote Control (URC) R6 sells for under $20 on Amazon. You spend that much in a week at Starbucks, seriously. This efficient little gadget remote has limited learning ability, but it can program up to six of your remote controls. It's basic--but basically all you need.

If however you own a complicated home theater system, then consider a touch-screen remote that can program up to fifteen devices such as the Logitech Harmony 900, priced a little under $300. It has an infrared which allows you can turn on equipment even if they are hidden inside the cabinet of your entertainment unit.

Sounds good so far? It gets better. You can turn on an electronic device even if it's located in another room up to 100 feet. Talk about not having to get up from the sofa! Simplify your life by using only one remote control like back in the 50s. Once you own one of these efficient resourceful all-in-one gadgets you'll ask yourself…

"How did I ever live without one?"

Let me know what you think about this gadget in the comments!

Charli "Chuck" Gulley is a screenwriter, filmmaker and freelance writer who lives in Southern California. Quite the tomboy as she enjoys Rugby, Fencing and touch football. She's an alumnus of the prestigious screenwriter's workshop, "Writers Bootcamp." Her passion is Hollywood, anything and everything to do with filmmaking. If you don't find her on set you can find her at the arcade playing air hockey and eating pizza.