SMK Electronics and Hillcrest Labs to Unveil New 'Scoop Pointer' Remote Control at CES 2013

To meet the growing need for cost effective, power efficient pointing in Smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming media players, and PCs,SMK Electronics and Hillcrest Labs have teamed up to create a new consumer remote control solution. The new remote, to be manufactured and marketed by SMK Electronics, enables in-air pointing and cursor control by combining Hillcrest's FreespaceMotionEngine Lite software with Bluetooth low energy RF technology in Hillcrest Labs ' award-winning Scoop pointer. The remote uses Bluetooth low energy wireless connectivity technology from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI).

"Fueled by the increased adoption of pointing-enabled Android and Windows 8 operating systems, advanced pointing controls are now an essential part of all the latest Smart TVs and PC devices," said Chad Lucien , senior vice president of sales and marketing, Hillcrest Labs . "We're excited to partner with SMK, a trusted industry supplier of high quality, reliable remote control solutions, to create a new product to meet this market need."

"We are pleased to be able to offer our global customers a turn-key remote control with high-precision cursor control," said Paul Evans , president, SMK Electronics Corporation. "The combination of Hillcrest's MotionEngine Lite software with Bluetooth low energy RF technology provides a cost effective, low-latency, ultra-high performance remote control solution for OEMs looking to deploy next-generation Smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming media players, PCs, and other entertainment devices."

"Bluetooth low energy wireless connectivity delivers the battery-friendly, high performance technology being demanded for advanced remote controls - giving consumers more precise control of their consumer electronics equipment," said Oyvind Birkenes, general manager, Wireless Connectivity Solutions, TI. "We are excited to continue our relationship with SMK and Hillcrest Labs to innovate in the living room, expanding our success with ZigBee RF4CE to Bluetooth low energy remote controls."