Abstract: The present invention is a system allowing a user to remotely control operable or manipulative devices through a telecommunications network and a Universal Controller interconnected with a host device. The Universal Controller receives signals in the form of audio (preferably DTMF) tones from the host device and controls the operable or manipulative devices as directed by these signals. The host device can be a personal computer, a touch-tone telephone, or any communications device that is capable of generating audio tones. The present invention also includes a method allowing a user to remotely control devices through an acoustically driven Universal Controller. The method uses a Universal Device Driver connected to a host computer that responds to a TCP/IP or other networking protocol request from a client computer by displaying a notification and enabling a decision to accept or reject the request, whereby establishing a connection between the host computer and the client computer.