Yes, so many appliances already have their own remotes. But don’t you hate it when you can’t find them?

Since my dad’s forgetfulness gene is a dominant trait (3 generations of Mossesgeld males and counting!), the TV remote always disappears. Sometimes, it even takes an epic quest of turning over pillows, pushing books aside, and scanning the immediate vicinity. Yes, I know people waste time looking for their remotes, but you can’t beat staying sitted while flipping through tens of channels in less than a minute. Nor switch through hundreds of audio tracks with mere finger movements.

The thing is, why can’t TV, component, and even computer manufacturers use a feature already found on many cordless phones? Most models have a page feature. If you can’t find the cordless unit, you press a button on its dock, and a loud beeping sound coming from cordless will help you locate it. Even if it’s hidden somewhere under your bed covers or couch cushions. Why not put a page button on appliances, so that it’s a lot easier to find their remotes?

Granted, this setup requires more power, and one thing we love about remotes is that they last months on a single charge. Which brings me to my next proposed feature: a built-in charging dock on the appliance itself. It makes sense: when you’re not using an appliance, you should place the remote somewhere near it right? A rechargeable remote also means you don’t need to spend for new batteries every time you run out.

I doubt if any head honcho or industrial designer will get to read this, since Fool for Five isn’t a high-traffic gadget blog like Gizmodo or Engadget. Still, the two features are something I’d like to see. They’re definitely more useful than superficial improvements like HD and 7.1 surround sound.

Aside from more useful remotes, what features would you like to see on future appliances?