I have been working on a web based AJAX universal remote program for a week or so now with great results. The program replaces 8 remotes with a simple user interface. I will be installing a touch screen by the side of the couch.
To interface with the components I use a USB-UIRT which allows me to capture and send IR commands from any remote. The InFocus SP5000 has optional RS232 control which allows me to send it commands directly over a NULL modem cable from the Media server.
To top off the new control suite I made a mobile web interface that I can use from my Windows Mobile PDA or any web enabled cell phone in the world.