Soon you'll be able to talk to your DISH TV remote to do more than just change the channel.
Englewood-based DISH announced yesterday at CES that it's building the Google Assistant into its Hopper family of receivers to allow for further control of smart devices, like thermostats and light switches.
Customers will be able to use the DISH voice remote to ask the Assistant to control smart home devices, provide weather and news updates, display photos and more.
"Our customers love the convenience of voice control, so we're expanding functionality to make it even more powerful," said Niraj Desai, DISH vice president of product management in a statement. "As a DISH subscriber, you will soon get the Google Assistant and all its incredible features – like adjusting your thermostat, managing your calendar or simply asking for the latest news – for free, right on your TV."
Customers with a DISH voice remote and broadband-connected Hopper, Joey or Wally will have access to the Google Assistant. New DISH customers receive the voice remote with all Hopper family receivers at no extra cost; current customers without a voice remote can upgrade for $20.
This is the second remote control innovation from DISH that has made news in recent weeks.
In December, the Denver Business Journal reported on a recently approved patent filed by DISH to create a new style of universal remote. Rather than pressing a button to choose the target device, this remote would control devices based on where it was pointed.
According to the story, to accomplish the universal remote, DISH's patent says it could include some kind of digital interface, mixed with an accelerometer, magnetometer and wireless communication technology.
