1. LIRC is a package that allows you to decode and send infra-red signals of many (but not all) commonly used remote controls. Former versions docussed on home-brew hardware connected to the serial and parallel port. Current versions of LIRC also support a varity of other hardware. The most important part of LIRC is the lircd dameon that will decode the IR signals received by the device drivers and provide information on a socket. It will also provide the information on a socket. It will also accept commands for IR signals to be sent if the hardware suports this. The second daemon program called lircmd will connect to lircd and traslate the decoded IR signals to mouse movements. For example, you can configure X to use your remote control as a remote input device. The user space applications allow you to control your computer with your remote control. You can send X events to applications, start programs and much more on just one button press. The possible applications are obvious: Infra-red mouse, remote control for your TV tuner card or CD-ROM, shutdown by remote, program your VCR and/or satellite tuner with your computer, etc. MP3 players are also quite popular. From LIRC