Synaptics Inc. (NASDAQ: SYNA), a leading developer of human interface solutions for mobile computing, communications and entertainment devices, today introduced “Boomerang”, a completely buttonless and keyless universal remote control concept. Designed as a command control center for all home digital entertainment, Boomerang demonstrates the functionality and industrial design possibilities of Synaptics core capacitive sensing technology. The concepts integrated into Boomerang are available to OEMs interested in converging home and entertainment controls with an intuitive easy-to-use remote that features the benefits of incorporating capacitive buttons, scrolling, cursor navigation and advanced gestures, while also enabling unique and appealing industrial design without the clutter of mechanical buttons and keys.

Utilizing the same technology behind Synaptics market-leading TouchPad™ for notebook PCs, the Boomerang remote control concept demonstrates how capacitive sensing technology can be applied to future designs, allowing more functionality and easy access to, and control of, a home entertainment systems numerous features. Boomerang uses direct cursor-control to navigate anywhere on the surface of the remote. This type of remote design can also employ Synaptics advanced gestures—Pinch, ChiralMotion and Momentum—for commands such as volume, zoom and scrolling. Capacitive sensing technology also has no moving parts to wear out and is virtually immune to both dirt and moisture. Users dont have to worry about damaging the remotes buttons after constant usage—capacitive buttons never wear out.

“Today, most universal remotes allow control of standard home equipment such as TVs, DVDs and stereos—Boomerang goes one step further to control equipment and functions, such as pausing a TV show to purchase an item shown on the screen and transferring data between multiple devices,” said Mark Vena, vice president of Synaptics PC business unit. “Our customers in this space are excited by the possibilities of this type of remote—they can visualize how the user interface can transform the design and function of universal remote controls.”

Boomerang Features

Synaptics dynamic user interface solutions allow a variety of layout options and adaptive menus. The Boomerang demonstrates how capacitive technology and gesture recognition can improve the function of universal remote controls. Examples include:

DualMode – highlights images of living areas on the remote TouchPad to help control home devices

Proximity Sensing – remote activates and illuminates as user approaches and powers down when user moves away

Feedback – remote provides visual, audio and tactile feedback to indicate when the users command is recognized

Dynamic Control – Gesture-based control pad customized to take full advantage of the digital home