Here are some options for remote control support for TV/entertainment systems from a Windows PC:

Hardware:
USB-UIRT http://www.usbuirt.com/
or
Tira 2 http://www.home-electro.com/tira2.php

Software:
Event Ghost is a free home automation application that will manage the infrared receiver/transmitter hardware noted above.
http://www.eventghost.org/

Alex

Alex P. Kurth, OTR/L
Assistive Technology Specialist
ALS Association - DC/MD/VA Chapter

Virginia Regional Office:
2807 N. Parham Road, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23294
804-836-1750, Ext. 103 or (Toll Free) 1-866-348-3257
Fax: 804-836-1751
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.alsinfo.org

Chapter Administrative Headquarters:
7507 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855
866-348-3257

Want to give a memorable holiday gift this year?
Give the gift of HOPE to dear friends and family members who are fighting ALS. 
For additional details, log on to http://webdc.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=DC_7_year_end.html

Join us on www.facebook.com or follow us on ALSA DC/MD/VA (ALSofDcMdVa) on Twitter

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jane Huggins
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 9:56 AM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Remote for laptop

I haven't actually tried this yet, but I looked into it over the summer
while planning for a grant submission.  The best system we could find was
the RedRat http://redrat.co.uk/
It appears to let you completely operate a remote control from your
computer.  Other systems are out there, but they looked more like hobby
devices.  Sorry I can't tell you personal experience with it yet,

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Jane Huggins, Ph.D.       "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and
                            stupid:  humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate
                            and brilliant; together they are powerful
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx            beyond imagination."   -- Albert Einstein
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~janeh  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
On Tue, 13 Dec 2011, Jenna Gardner wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I am working with a PALS who is using a head mouse to control his laptop.  He asked me if I knew of any software that he can download that will allow him to control his tv remote from his laptop.  He does not have any bulbar onset at this point, so communication is not an issue, but does not have any functional use of his extremities.  He is pretty "tech savvy" and is trying to stay as independent as possible.  Any thoughts or ideas?  Thanks.
>
> Jenna
>
> Jenna Gardner, MS, CCC-SLP
> Speech-Language Pathologist
> Communication Disorder Unit
> SUNY Upstate Medical Center/University Hospital
> phone: 315-464-1576
> fax: 315-464-1577
>