LAS VEGAS - You couldn't miss the green button on two remote controls in the CES Innovations award showcases outside the central hall at CES 2010. Here are demos of each...
Elan Microcontroller Mutlitouch Remote
First up is a remote by Elan Microcontrollers, outof Taiwan. While the remote ostensibly resembles a Media Center remote on one side - flip it over and it has two thumb-touchpads for mimicking a touch interface.
If I understood Deng, the demo'er, correctly, Elan's plan is to work with existing OEMs to offer the remotes in their packages. After shooting the demo, I tried the remotes out for myself. The dual touchpads took some getting used to, but the remote performed everything I asked of it.
evolution 5500 by SilverPAC
The second award winner is the evolution 5500 by SilverPAC, a high-end sideshow remote and home controller that works via IR, Wi-fi and Z-wave (presumably it can control any Z-wave lights, thermostats, drapes, etc. you may have in your home - they have a full working demo over at the Venetian that I haven't been able to see yet).
Expect these to be available on Amazon in Feb.-March of this year, ranging from a $200 low-end model up throgh the high-end 5500 for $1200. SilverPAC also makes a speaker dock for the remote to enable you to stream music from your PC to the remote/dock combo using PlayTo technology.