Technology utilizing electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, combined with the Android operating system, enables a range of functionalities. A primary example involves controlling electronic devices, where an Android device equipped with an infrared blaster can mimic a universal remote, operating televisions, set-top boxes, and other compatible appliances. This integration represents a fusion of communication protocols and mobile computing.
The incorporation of this technology offers convenience and consolidates control over multiple devices into a single handheld unit. Historically, infrared communication served as a dominant method for short-range data transfer. While largely superseded by technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for data purposes, it retains significance for device control due to its simplicity, ubiquity in legacy devices, and lack of pairing requirements.