The TV Remote Control: Past, Present, and Future

[Borg 386]

Although the form, the number of buttons, and the interface may have changed since Eugene Polley's invention of the Flash-Matic TV remote in 1955, the purpose of the TV remote remains the same: Allow people to control devices and appliances wirelessly without having to get up off the couch.

There's no denying the TV remote's impact on the way we change channels, navigate a DVR, or stream Netflix movies. In honor of Polley, who passed away on May 20 at age 96, here's a look at the past, present, and future of the device, and a collection of some of the most innovative remote controls.

A Tribute to the TV Remote Control: Past, Present, and Future | PCWorld

Encapsulating the space-age futurism of the 1950s, the first wireless remote was the Flash-Matic. Eugene Polley's remote emitted a visible light beam that the user had to meticulously aim at one of four sensors on a TV set to change channels, adjust the volume, and turn the TV on or off.

(Gotta love it....looks like something straight out of Buck Rogers)

 

[Joan Archer]

Reminds me of a hairdryer.

 

[seekermeister]

I don't see enough controls on it to perform routine remote functions.

 

[Zepher]

I don't see enough controls on it to perform routine remote functions.

It was a flashlight you pointed at the tv.
Since there are only 4 sensors on the tv, it was probably channel up, vol up & down, and power.
There were only 3 channels back then so it didn't take long to cycle through the channels.