Accenda Surfboard Voice Interactive Smart Universal Remote Control

by Accenda

Product Features

• Hands-free voice operated universal remote control
• Recognizes your voice commands right out-of-the-box.
• Controls TV?s, Cable and Satellite Boxes,DVD Players, VCRs.
• Patented technology.Easy to set-up with help button.
• Award Winning at the 2007 CES show in Las Vegas.Silver Finish

Product Description

Is it difficult for you to see or press the buttons on a TV remote? Then try the latest in voice activated technology, The SurfboardTM Voice Activated TV Remote! The SurfboardTM universal remote can control the volume, change the channels or turn on the TV by responding to your voice.The unique SurfboardTM "Help" button talks you through the automated setup for your TV, cable or satellite equipment. Although it requires more programming, you can also use the unit with a VCR, DVD player or a Tivo box. If the brand you use is not in the library of codes, the SurfboardTM can learn the commands from the existing remote control. That means if you buy a new TV, you won't have to worry about compatibility!The SurfboardTM is designed to listen for a specific keyword (factory set to "Surfboard") and then your command. The factory set listen time is set to 10 minutes, but can be extended to 1 hour, 4 hours or forever.The SurfboardTM receives power directly from an electrical outlet via a 6 foot long, regulated 6V power adapter. The adapter also serves as a battery charger so that the SurfboardTM can be powered with 4 AAA rechargeable batteries (not included).However the power adapter is advised if you would like the remote to have a listening time that is longer than 10 minutes. The SurfboardTM comes with 5 pre-programmed (speaker independent) commands:Power .Channel up .Channel down .Previous .Favorite .If you'd prefer, you can replace the pre-programmed commands with up to 12 of your own. You can use these commands for access to other features and functions you use regularly. You can also create a customized keyword for waking up the remote, and keywords to tune to your favorite channels automatically!Whether you have low vision, arthritic hands or are a gadget lover, the Surfboard Voice Activated Remote is easy and fun to use.

Product Details

• ASIN: B0002J1NX2
• UPC: 890954000016
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,161 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars When It's Good, It's Very Very Good..., July 24, 2008

By 

Paul D. Terrell "P. Terrell" (San Ramon, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Accenda Surfboard Voice Interactive Smart Universal Remote Control (Health and Beauty)

I got this remote for my limited-mobility, aged mother. She was having troubles even with the Hy-tek Partner big button remote because she could not point the remote at the TV and press the buttons quick enough to change to a particular channel. With the Surfboard, it worked, most of the time.

The main problem is the voice recognition is "too particular". When my mother was tired, her commands were said differently and not recognized.

Another limitation is the number of voice commands that the remote will learn: 12. This might be fine to control a TV only, but when trying to control a DVD too, at least 6 of those are taken (switch to DVD, play DVD, stop DVD, fast-forward, rewind, switch to TV). So this limits the ability to switch to a particular channel.

To have the Surfboard listen all the time without draining the batteries, an external adapter is required. I tried to use a generic adapter, but it didn't work. (I called tech support and they said their adapter had special voltage regulating circuitry that most "generics" do not have.) So I ended up getting another Surfboard remote with the adapter from another vendor and this one will go back to Target. (Amazon/Target should offer the remote with the adapter...)

One other concern is the "bright" blue LED when the room is dark. When it's bedtime, mother must turn the remote around from her bedside table because "old blue-eye is just too bright".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great gift for the blind, November 30, 2009

By 

R. O. Gerena (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Accenda Surfboard Voice Interactive Smart Universal Remote Control (Health and Beauty)

I bought this for my father on his birthday. He lost his sight later in life, and while hes gotten accustomed to his disability and can get around great, some things will always be a pain in the ass. One thing in particular, television remotes and their tendency to have more and more buttons on them as technology improves.

Recently my parents got cable and the new remote looks like a damn super-computer. Between fumbling with tiny buttons and having over 100 new channels he could never find the stations he was looking for. I did a search for a voice activated remote and this popped up so I picked it up and prayed it lived up to it's claims.

It did!

He just says 'Surfboard' and it beeps to let him know it's listening for his next command. He can turn the TV on and off, surf channels or even jump to his favorite stations. Sometimes he has to repeat himself, but I'd day the thing is about 90% accurate.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful for a Quad, April 4, 2010

By 

Moeydevil "moeydevil" (Corte Madera, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Accenda Surfboard Voice Interactive Smart Universal Remote Control (Health and Beauty)

I bought this unit for my father a couple of years ago. He is a quadriplegic and cannot change the channels with a normal remote. This unit has given him a great deal of independence by just allowing him to turn on and off his TV. It isn't perfect but it works much better than other units we tried previously.