From the very beginning the remote control was positioned at least in part as a device that fights ads (the image below is from a 1957 ad for Zenith remote; full image here) .
PrismSales launched a pad that nags you when the remote control is misplaced (via i4u). We also have voice-activated and talking remote controls. More fancy remote controls come with color screens.
With all this technology, can we turn the remote control from an ad zapper into an ad delivery device? Get it to remember phone numbers or URLs from the informecials? Scroll info on products featured in a show? What if cell phones (or even regular phones) will be used to surf teh channels?
Earlier:
NY 1 TV Viewers Vote with Remote Controls
Programming DVR with Cell Phone