(+) How to Remotely Control a Distant Computer

...or perhaps a computer that is not so distant

Remote control software for desktop and laptop computers has been available for years. All systems administrators of large data centers are familiar with these programs, as are many "work from home" individuals who need to control computers at the office on nights and weekends. However, the same technology is available to everyone; you do not need to be a systems professional in order to access the computer on your desk at the office or the one at home when you are traveling. Best of all, many of these remote control products are available free of charge.

Remote control software has a very simple goal: add a second monitor, keyboard and mouse to a computer. The difference is that these secondary items are located some distance away, perhaps miles or even thousands of miles away. I was recently in Singapore and was able to access my computer in the US in essentially the same way that I do when I am at home. Everythinbg that is displayed on my computer’s monitor at home was displayed on my iPad in Singapore. Everything that I normally would type on the home computer’s keyboard worked well when I typed on the (optional) iPad keyboard in Singapore. The mouse also worked as normal, although I used my finger as a substitute mouse on the iPad’s touch-sensitive screen. Still, it produced the same results as using the mouse when at home.

I had full access to my new and saved email messages, to all the files on my home computer’s hard drive, and more. The only thing missing was that I could not insert a CD into the slot in the home computer.