Number one with a bullet on my Christmas wish list this year: TV-B-Gone, a universal remote control with one button, and one function — to turn off any television.

From Wired’s writeup:

Altman’s key-chain fob was a TV-B-Gone, a new universal remote that turns off almost any television. The device, which looks like an automobile remote, has just one button. When activated, it spends over a minute flashing out 209 different codes to turn off televisions, the most popular brands first.

For Altman, founder of Silicon Valley data-storage maker 3ware, the TV-B-Gone is all about freeing people from the attention-sapping hold of omnipresent television programming. The device is also providing hours of entertainment for its inventor. […] Responding to the accusation that it sounded like unaccountable power, Burke said, “You’ve heard about the battle for eyeballs. They’re your eyeballs. You should not have your consciousness constantly invaded. Television people are getting better and better at finding ways of roping us into TV where we can’t get away.” With the spread of TiVo and downloadable movies, he said, the traditional 30-second spot is dying. Now, advertisers want waiting rooms, elevators and urinals — and they don’t want anyone to be able to turn the screens off.

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p>I am so in favor of anything that works on breaking the stranglehold TV has on most people. I’m not militantly anti-TV — of late, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying watching Buffy, Angel, and (thanks to my parents) the West Wing thanks to the DVD releases of each of those shows.

But for too many people, TV takes over their lives. I can fall prey to this too — when I’m in an environment where a TV is on and in my line of vision, it’s difficult not to get sucked in. I’ve often been out with friends to grab a bite at some restaurant that feels the need to scatter TVs around the building, and it always makes it more difficult to carry on a converstion, as there is the constant background distraction.

One of these little gizmos in my pocket would make me a much happier person.

[See also: 32.4 Days | No More West Wing | More music | Links for October 6th from 09:07 to 18:54 | On that whole TV thing… ]

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