Pop-up Microlite Illuminates Remote Control Button Text

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 30 Aug 2010 - Updated: 27 Oct 2024
Publication Type: Product Release, Update

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Overview - Related Content

Synopsis

Pop-up Microlite sticks on remote controls to illuminate both the buttons and text in the dark or dim lighting.

Overview

Are you tired of fumbling with your remote control and pressing the wrong buttons every time you watch TV in the dark or dim lighting? A Hawaii company has introduced an ingenious new micro-sized L.E.D. light called the Pop-up Microlite that sticks on remote controls to illuminate both the buttons and text in the dark or dim lighting.

Microlite Tech LLC reports that its new Pop-up Microlite is the only such product on the market for illuminating remote controls. The nickel-sized light sticks to nearly any remote control using 3M adhesive backing. It comes in a high-tech glossy black and is available at retail stores for a suggested retail price of $9.99. It will also be available on Amazon. The Pop-up Microlite also makes a powerful promotional item being seen by users every time they watch television and is available with custom imprinting.

There are an estimated 500 million remote controls in the U.S. with an estimated 450 million of those having no back-lighting capabilities. However, surveys show that as many as 90% of people enjoy watching television or movies in the dark.

"That means there are a lot of people out there fumbling in the dark with their remote controls," CEO John Teel says.

Remote control manufacturers continue to design remote controls that are nearly impossible to use in the dark. Only about 10-15% of new remotes are back-lit and back-lighting is far from a perfect solution. Backlit remotes illuminate the buttons but not the text next to the buttons, making them still very awkward to use in the dark.

"The Pop-up Microlite solves this problem by illuminating the entire remote control!" says Teel.

The Pop-up Microlite appeals to both the young and seniors alike. Many seniors have poorer vision and need the product even in dim lighting. Younger people tend to watch more TV in the dark so they need the product too.

"The response has been phenomenal and the most common question we get is 'Why didn't someone think of this sooner'" says Teel.

The patented pop-up feature is critical because the light source must be elevated above the surface to reduce shadows from the protruding buttons; however, when not in use it is critical that the product remain small and out of the way. The solution is the unique ability to pop-up. With a simple push the product pops up and lights up the entire remote. When done, simply push it closed to turn it off.

Microlite Tech LLC is owned and operated by John and Jessica Teel of Kalaheo, Hawaii. They developed the Pop-up Microlite and started Microlite Tech LLC after discovering that fumbling with your remote in the dark was a global problem shared by millions with no solution currently on the market.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.