Coffee table is universal remote control

We all have a little bit of sci-fi dream inside. Can’t deny that. We’ve all seen how Hollywood pictured a single device control every tiny bit inside the house. Now here’s something that might just be it. Except that it is only a coffee table, and it controls only the living room.

Introducing CRYSTAL (Control of Remotely Interfaced Systems using Touch-based Actions in Living spaces), a recent research project that tries to create a unique bonding between devices in a room.

The main idea is having a single device to control everything in a room from lights, fans, TV, sound system, to digital frame, while you’re comfortably sitting in your couch.

This idea isn’t actually new. Microsoft has come up with this in 2008. But CRYSTAL might be a little different.

Okay enough with the intro. Let’s just get down to business. Here’s the video of how it works.

Sauce: Wired.com