This article describes creating a better remote control for DVr’s.

The original article:
http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/panaremote/index.html

Other, bit more expensive way of creating a more reasonable universal remote control is to find a non-expensive old Windows CE device with large display such as the Siemens SIMPAD SL4 (ebay) and use one of the many Remote Control programs out there, such as the RemoteControl II from WinCEsoft. For couple of (hundreds?) bucks you can create very competetive universal remote where that rivals far more more expensive big screen LCD screen remotes (that costs in thousands). However such LCD screen remote is more suitable for a home theater applications rather than for video editing - because you can’t controll the devices just by touch (without looking at the remote screen).