Gyration has been producing motion-sensing controllers for some time, and it's no doubt hoping the popularity of Nintendo's Wii will help boost awareness of such devices.

The latest to arrive is the Media Center Remote. Shaped like a standard TV remote, it houses 54 buttons.

The device is powered by two AA batteries and uses 2.4GHz RF to communicate with your PC, although infrared can be used to control your other home entertainment units (up to three devices can be programmed).

To control your PC, a slim USB receiver must be inserted. This houses all the necessary drivers, so you won't need to fiddle around with software installation. Press the Connect button on both the USB stick and the remote, and you're away.

By default, the motion sensing only kicks in when you hold down the Gyration button in the middle of the remote; left and right mouse buttons sit either side of this. Press the Gyration button twice in succession and the motion sensor will stay on.

Given its name, the remote is designed primarily for use with Media Center. You can use it in a standard Windows environment, but you'll find it tricky to click on items such as small buttons. Double-clicks are especially difficult to perform as the mouse pointer often moves before youíve clicked twice. You donít need to aim the remote direct at the screen during, but this means you can end up pointing it in a completely different direction to where the mouse pointer is on screen.

Gyration's remote works well with Media Center, but then so does a standard non-motion sensing remote, which means itís got its work cut out to avoid being labelled as a gimmick.