Ah, the remote control.
We all have them. And it’s not that we just have one remote control; no, we have several displayed on our coffee table and a few lost under the couch befriending dust bunnies and lost coins.
Yes, the remote control has made our lives easier, but we take this staple of modern technology for granted.
It’s so easy to aim the remote at your TV and bam! A new show appears. Or, you could be at your desk and with a press of a button you unlock your car doors. When you think about it, you don’t have to be fond of electronics to appreciate the remote control.
That’s why at Tekoia, we wanted to share with you the history of the remote control. How did the remote control develop into the smart technology it is today?
The First Remote Control
Believe it or not, the remote control made its first appearance in the 1800’s! Serbian-American inventor, Nikola Tesla, invented the first wireless remote control in 1898. He called it, teleautomaton and used it to control a miniature boat via radio waves.
He unveiled it in New York’s Madison Square Garden and later he had it patented as a “Method of an Apparatus for Controlling Mechanisms of Moving Vehicle or Vehicles.”
The Wireless Robot
In 1903, Leonardo Torres invented the “Telekino,” a robot with its own remote control. Torres used electromagnetic waves to control the robot and soon became a pioneer in the field of remote control technology.
He later demonstrated the “Telekino” technology by guiding a boat wirelessly, and had plans to operate a torpedo using a remote control device, when funding ran out.
The Military Use of Remote Controls
Around the 1930’s the first remote control plane was flown. This generated interested with the military and they worked extensively to make use of remote control technology during the Second World War.
Remote controls were also being used by radio manufacturers and in 1939 the Philco Mystery Control became the first consumer electronic device. It was a wireless remote control that used a low-frequency radio transmitter.
The TV Remote Is Born
Zenith Radio Corporation developed the first TV remote in 1950. It proved to be a difficult remote to use; you had to aim the TV remote control precisely at the photoelectonic sensors or it did not work.
There were four sensors on each corner of the television, but these sensors were sensitive to light, responding to the sun, lamps and ceiling lights – often causing unexpected channel changes.
But, this was better than the alternative: having to be at arm’s length away from the TV and turning the clunky rotating dials or buttons to change the channels or volume.
In 1956, Robert Adler, of Zenith, developed the Space Command control. Instead of relying on light to make the remote work, the Space Command used high-frequency, ultrasonic sound.
There were four buttons – ON, OFF, channel up and channel down. There was no volume control.
Ultrasonic sound was the standard for TV remotes until 1980 when infrared light signals were used.
Soon, remotes were everywhere. By the early 2000’s the average American home had 4 remotes, giving way to the development and need of the universal remote.
Using Your Mobile Device as a Remote Control
Nowadays you can use your smartphone as your own universal remote. Our own SURE Universal Remote allows you to control your TV and many other appliances around your home.
With the growing popularity of smartphones, it’s no wonder we are using it for everything including a remote control.
So, next time you’re changing the channels, think about how amazing the TV remote really is. It changed our TV viewing habits and prompted the development of better, more user-friendly remote control systems.
It definitely made our life easier. Have fun playing with your TV remote control!
