Ever wondered how
bright is the
infrared LED on your
remote control? Just get a
camcorder, or
webcam and point it to the
remote control. Press any
button on the
remote and there it is! You can see the
infrared light coming out from it!
Most CCDs used in consumer cameras are sensitive to infrared. You'll also notice that most remotes emit pulses instead of a continuous light beam.
I wonder if it's possible to build an infrared flashlight strong enough to allow your camera to see in total darkness.