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:

<blockquote style="border-left: #5555EE solid 0.2em; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0.85em">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

</blockquote>