Universal Electronics signed a license deal with Hillcrest Labs t...
Universal Electronics signed a license deal with Hillcrest Labs to use Freespace pointing and motion control technology in new remote controls. They didn’t release the terms or say when the first remotes featuring the technology might ship. Universal “will…
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be exploring potential product concepts to offer pointing and motion-control technology to its customers around the world,” it said. “As consumer demand for television entertainment and control continues to evolve, we are always seeking new ways to differentiate” Universal products, said CEO Paul Arling. Freespace technology was created by Hillcrest for use in advanced TV remote controls and other devices, including Hillcrest’s Loop remote control. The technology is being shown this week at Universal’s booth at the IPTV World Forum Europe conference in London. Logitech has already licensed Hillcrest’s technology for use in the cordless MX Air mouse. Freespace technology allows subscription TV service providers and CE manufacturers to embed advanced motion control and pointing capabilities into a wide range of devices and form factors, it said. The devices can then enable advanced digital media applications and services “to drive new revenue for service providers and manufacturers,” Hillcrest said. The company closed a $25 million financing round led by new investor AllianceBernstein, it said in January. Previous investors including New Enterprise Associates, Columbia Capital and Grotech Capital Group also took part, Hillcrest said. It said it planned to “use the funds to further extend its pointer-based application creation platform and pointing technology to a wide range of devices that control and display digital media.”