Here is another product I would recommend, the FLIRC
It is one extremely nifty piece of tech. Like the ordoid go, wemos d1 mini, and Silicon Dust, I would recommend this.
Now what is it? This is simple device you plug in to your USB port and it takes IR signals from your remote and translates them in to key strokes.
I probably can build one like this with an IR receiver and Arduino Leonardo. But what makes this SUPER easy and worth it is the software. You click left arrow on the software to learn, point the IR to the FLIRC and press the right arrow on the remote, and it translates that IR signal in to a keystroke.
I am happy to have purchased two, but gosh I wish a got another one because it was on sale for $16.95 an Amazon.
Sale is no more, but I found it for $20 on ebay. I am going to get one more. It was so worth it.