who+did+invent+such+things

[] Who Invented The TV Remote Control?

For years I thought it was my own father that invented remote control technology. He had three remote controls, all of them voice activated. Very high tech. He didn't even need to say the channel number. He would simply say " Put on Star Trek.", and, like magic, it would appear. He also had a potato chip command, and a lawn mowing command. Incredible technology! Ok, so it wasn't exactly magic. Being the eldest of these remotes, it was usually me who hauled myself off the couch to change the channel or do whatever errand he required. I recently discovered that my own children had no idea that there was life before remote controls. Or cable tv, for that matter. Oh, the horror on their faces when I told them of the old days. Only a few tv channels, that you had to select manually, and they all went off the air at midnight! AAAH! I think they actually had nightmares that night. I decided it was time to teach them ( and myself, for that matter) about the origins of some of the devices that we have come to take for granted in our lives.
 * __ Dear old dad __**
 * __ Life in the dark ages __**


 * __ Early Remote Control __**

In the late 1940's, Eugene McDonald jr., founder and president of Zenith Radio corporation, thought that television ( brand new technology in those days) would be much improved if viewers did not have to watch so many commercials. Apparently commercials were the bane of television viewing from the very beginning. Mr. McDonald charged his team of engineers with developing a way to mute annoying ads. In a show of lateral thinking, they did him proud. In 1950 the Lazy Bones remote control was introduced to the public. Rather than simply muting the commercials, the new device could actually change the channel from the comfort of your sofa. The Lazy Bones consisted of a handheld control attached to a cable. The cable was, in turn, connected to an electric motor on the tv. The motor could turn the tuner clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on which button you pushed. There was also a power button for turning the set on and off. The revolutionary device was wildly popular at first. But consumers soon started to complain about the trip hazard posed by the cable. Mr. McDonald wasn't completely satisfied, either. Lazy Bones was indeed innovative, but it still did not mute commercials. Sure you could change the channel, but you would find the commercials on the next channel as well. Back to the drawing board.
 * __ The first remote __**

In 1955, Eugene Polley, also working for Zenith, devised the Flashmatic. Polley, pictured above with his invention, placed photo cells in the corners of the television. These were activated with a very directional flashlight. These sensors controlled the power, rotated the tuner dial, and, at long last, turned the sound on and off. The first mute button! About 30,000 Flashmatics sold in the first year. It was soon discovered, though, that direct sunlight and other light-emitting devices could inadvertently activate these sensors. McDonald knew they were on the right track, so he called for an even better design. Eugene Polley
 * __ The first wireless remote __**