THE HISTORY BEHIND ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST INVENTIONS

Some technology is esoteric. Some technology is understood only by a particular generation. Some technology burst onto the scene only to disappear just as quickly. But one piece of technology that everyone has used over the years is the remote control.

Remote controls are as integrated into our lives as motor vehicles are. They’re used for televisions and home theater systems, yes, but also for car door locks, air conditioner units, ceiling fans, garage doors, security systems, toy cars, and more. We’ve all held and argued over and lost a remote at one point or another. They’ve certainly made our lives easier.

Yet there was a point in history when the remote control didn’t exist. And even after it did, it wasn’t always the wireless infrared remotes we’re used to today. So let’s rewind to the beginning and take a look at where the remote control got its start and how it came to take control of our lives.

THE FIRST REMOTE CONTROL

The dawn of the remote control can be owed to none other than Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer. He’s best known for helping to develop alternating current (AC) electrical power and facing off against Thomas Edison’s direct electrical current (DC). But he was also the creator of the world’s first wireless remote, which he presented at Madison Square Garden in New York City…way back in 1898.

He dubbed his system a “teleautomaton.” This teleautomaton was a box that was equipped with a lever and a telegraph key; it could send signals that could be used to control a range of mechanical contraptions. For this demonstration, the contraption was a model boat, which had a small antenna to receive exactly one radio frequency. The demonstration worked, with the box sending signals to the boat to adjust the rudder and propeller, thus controlling its movements in the water.

Financially, however, this demonstration got Tesla nowhere. He was hoping the U.S. Navy would invest in the technology for wartime, but they ruled the technology as too inadequate to be properly used at the time. But Tesla’s concept of the remote control quickly gained traction and experiments with remote technology ignited all over the world - later to be used in World War I and beyond.

ZENITH HITS THE STAGE

The next big leap in remote control technology occurred in 1950 thanks to Zenith Radio Corporation. Zenith created the very first television remote control called “Lazy Bone.” The name fit perfectly - after all, this remote was invented to give people the option to power on and off their TV and change the channels without moving from the couch. However, this was a wired remote control, not a wireless one, so it was attached to the television using a long cord. People didn’t care much for this tripping hazard, so Zenith tried again.

Zenith’s engineer Eugene Polley created the first wireless TV remote in 1955 called the “Flash-matic.” The Flash-matic worked by using four photocells, one in each corner of the TV screen. Using a directional flashlight to activate the four control functions, the remote could turn the power on and off, turn the sound on and off, and change the channel tuner clockwise and counterclockwise. However, since it did use photocells, it had problems working well on sunny days. 

Then in 1956, Zenith’s “Space Command” remote hit production. The Zenith engineer Robert Adler designed the Space Command using ultrasonics, meaning it used ultrasound waves instead of light. It also needed zero batteries. It worked through the use of four lightweight aluminum rods, each with a different length to create a different sound. These ultrasonic remotes became known as “clickers” due to the noise they made when their buttons were clicked. And they would be the standard for remote controls for the next 25 years.

INFRARED LIGHT SIGNALS

Infrared devices replaced ultrasonic remote controls in the early 1980s. Infrared light signals are not susceptible to interference from external noises, and they can be used for more complex commands. This led to remotes being able to handle more complex commands such as volume control, recording abilities, and sleep timers. With infrared technology, remote controls became much more versatile. And these types of remotes are still the most common type used today.

With versatility and convenience, however, came the “remote overload.” Remote controls became so popular that every other electronic device needed their own remote. You would need one for your cable box, one for your television, and one for your VCR or DVD player. This, of course, exasperated many: why couldn’t one remote control everything?

Thus the universal remote was born. Universal remotes can be programmed to control multiple devices, so people stopped needing a separate remote for everything. Universal remotes have even recently evolved a step further in the form of smartphones. With the advent of smartphones came the convenience of apps. Many television brands (such as Roku) and receiver brands (such as Onkyo) have an app you can download to control your device right from your phone, eliminating the need to search for the remote.

SUMMARY

Remote controls have quite the history. In most minds, their existence goes hand-in-hand with the development of televisions, but as we’ve seen, that’s not quite the case. Televisions certainly popularized remote controls, and they’re the reason remotes developed as quickly as they did. But remotes exist outside of living rooms, making our lives easier and controlling everything from garage doors to drones to toilet seats (yes, we’re serious). And they just keep evolving!

As convenient as newer remotes are though, and as exciting as it will be to see how they continue to evolve, nothing beats having the original factory remote for your device. Whether you’re looking for the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) remote to a vintage piece like a CD player or a cassette deck, or the OEM remote for a newer Bluetooth receiver or a DVD or Blu-ray player, we’ve got you covered. SpenCertified remotes are original, professionally refurbished products that come with batteries and an easy return policy. You can find our huge collection of factory remotes here.

Thanks for reading! Have a great day.

https://spencertified.com/collections/remote-controls