A system (100, 102) for remotely controlling a controllable device (110), the controllable device comprising a receiver (112) configured to receive a digital command, the controllable device being configured to modify an aspect of the controllable device in response to receiving the digital command, a mobile controller (120), the mobile controller comprising a tag reader (122) configured to connect directly to an electronic tag over a first wireless channel (152) and to receive information from the tag identifying the controllable device (110), and a sender (124) configured to wirelessly send the digital command to the controllable device over a second wireless channel (154) using the information identifying the controllable device, and an access control module (130) configured to selectively allow or block the mobile controller to control the controllable device through the digital command, the access control module being configured to allow the mobile controller to control the controllable device within a control period, the control period starting upon the tag reader wirelessly connecting to the electronic tag and terminating when a control release condition is satisfied.