Max and Minnie had a long day at school. All they wanted to do was eat some tasty snacks, watch their favourite TV show, and relax before their evening study sessions. As soon as they turned on the TV, the question arose – Who commands the remote control? Will they watch Max’s favourite channel or Minnie’s favourite TV show? The fight for the TV remote continued.
Does this sound familiar? Mostly, the answer is a big yes. But have you wondered what it would be like if there was no remote control?
No surfing through the TV channels at the comfort of the couch!
No remote cars!
Electronic gadgets had to be turned on and off manually, every time!
Isn’t the thought maddening?
Since its first invention, remote controls have made our lives easy by being that little gadget that has made TV viewing seamless, to begin with. But do you know how remote controls have evolved over time? From a wired appliance to a space command appliance, its journey has been amazing.
Today, let us look at the history of the remote control and its journey.
The Mystery Control Remote System was invented by a company called Philco in the 1930s. It operated on radio frequencies and was used to control the household radio. Being the most innovative invention of its age, the Philco Mystery Control looked like a rotary telephone without the handset. It was the size of a dictionary and, hence, was not portable.
The first TV remote control came to existence because of one man’s desire to mute the commercials. The man was Eugene F McDonald, the president of Zenith Radio Corporation. He challenged his engineers to create a device that can mute the TV and change the channel at his comfort. The result was the Lazy Bones Remote Control. The remote was wired, and the cable ran from the TV set to the viewer, meandering across the living room.
The public appreciated the luxury of changing channels from their couch through the wired Lazy Bones Remote. But they did not want to get off the couch to reach the remote. So, Zenith Radio Corporation took a step ahead.
In 1955, Zenith Radio Corporation introduced the first wireless TV remote control and called it Flashmatic Remote Controls. It was operated with the help of four photocells – one in each corner of the TV screen. The remote control had a directional flashlight that could activate the photocells which would switch the sound and video on or off, or change the channels. This pioneering achievement had its limitations. The receptors responded to other light sources like bulbs and sunlight.
In 1956, Zenith Radio Corporation found even more efficient technology – the use of ultrasonic sound waves rather than the light waves. This type of remote control was called the Space Command Remote Control.
In Space Command Remote Control, the high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves were generated using aluminium rods, and the receiver in the TV set picks it up. The processed sound waves switched the TV on or off, or changed the channel, or mute or unmute the sound. The remote was user-friendly. It had multiple buttons for different functions. It also lets the user change the colour of their TV screens.
After 25 years of Ultrasonic remotes, Infrared Technology became the focus. By the 1980s, the remote controls with infrared light beams became popular. They worked on batteries. The low-frequency light beams emitted by remote controls are invisible to the human eye, but the receiver in the TV set could detect it. The shortcoming of this remote control is the need to point the remote control in the direction of its electronic gadget. The flaw is overcome by Radio Frequency Remote Controls.
The Radio Frequency (RF) Remote Controls are the handheld devices that use radio frequency transmissions. They are used in car key fobs, garage door openers and other home automation systems. Nevertheless, IR remote controls still remain a popular choice of remote control manufacturers globally.
From the Early Radio Remote to the Infrared Remote Control to Radio Frequency Remote control, remote controls have come a long way. With numerous innovations making their way into the world every season, what would you like to control with a remote? Let us know in the comments below!
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Comments
Tarun.H.R.
October 11, 2020
very intresting
Nila Sounya
August 16, 2020
I never thought about the remote control and thanks to byju’s for telling about this
Ch Monika sai
August 6, 2020
Wow?? I never thought yat ‼️‼️
Aarav Ahuja
July 23, 2020
Very Good Byju’s and THANK YOU for this
Rishika Roy
July 12, 2020
Never really gave a thought to such an everyday thing in my life!! That is before of course I read this byjus article
Aditya Ranjan
July 2, 2020
Very knowledgeable
Nakshatra.s
June 4, 2020
I was fantastic . Even a remote has a big history and revolution
Beetantani Halder
May 31, 2020
Most interesting as a part of new evolution
Chandrakant
May 23, 2020
Very nice history. Thankyou
Harini
May 11, 2020
Mind blowing…?✌️
Purbasha Falguni
April 22, 2020
Amazing. Now. I believe that everything has a history!!!
Arushi Mukherjee
April 16, 2020
Very interesting and nice, never knew
the history of remote.???
Aaryan Rawat
April 11, 2020
It was very good but can I have a information on the evolution of money?
Dayanand
April 8, 2020
Its a great invention
Aakash
April 3, 2020
Amazing and lot of knowledge
Riddhi
March 27, 2020
Wow great
Dhanayush
March 26, 2020
Was very helpful and interesting.
Ashutosh
March 24, 2020
Nice and great revolution of this remote .They are helpful to us..
Savni
March 23, 2020
Omg,it’s so cool! Thank you byjus?
Richa Borah
March 22, 2020
Never thought of history of remotes from pressing in the TV to our hands !!!!
Anurag roy
March 22, 2020
Too interesting
Akash. K
March 20, 2020
Great innovation
Naman Agrawal
March 20, 2020
The revolution is really great , thank you Byju`s
Madhu
March 17, 2020
This history of Remote Control helps us to better understand about it
Thank you so much Byjus!
Md Zaman
March 14, 2020
superb?????
Amrita Das
March 12, 2020
Existing
Ayush Prakash Saha
March 9, 2020
very interesting.We have the INFRARED Remote Control.
Suhani
March 8, 2020
Interesting to know the history of remote control
Sharan.M.Y
March 8, 2020
Amazing! , I had never thought that the remote control has a big history
Pavitra Suresh
March 7, 2020
Hey I love BYJU’S because it is my first time studying it and it is exiting and fun I really love Byjus’s ???
Angshu
March 7, 2020
Very interesting. Nice facts about the remote. Lot of knowledge.???
Ch Monika sai
March 6, 2020
Fantastic remote journey from many years
Trishan Saha
March 6, 2020
Wow!
Alankrit kashyap
March 6, 2020
I learn many things about it that when it was invented and how it make the human life easy….
Ansh
March 6, 2020
If you ask me what would I control I would control my future robot that I am gonna make
Vaibhav Borhade
March 6, 2020
Its too great information thank you Byju’s the learning app
Aditya
March 6, 2020
Really great everything around us has an evolution.
I would like to control my pen with remote
Control firstly.
Ballabhi
March 5, 2020
Wow! What a history of Remote.?
Srinu
March 5, 2020
Very great
Tanishka Maurya
March 5, 2020
VERY NICE AND INTERESTING. I NEVER WONDERED.
Krishna
March 5, 2020
I gained a lots of knowledge
Kartikey naugain
March 5, 2020
Thanx byjus by this we get lots of knowledge ☺️?.
Stuti Gupta
March 5, 2020
Amazing information
Sanjana
March 4, 2020
It’s really very interesting to know about the evolution of remotes ?
Rishikesh
March 4, 2020
It was interesting a lot,a lot,a lot.
I knew many new things today
Amrutha m g
March 4, 2020
I want to control Time as well
Razin Keelath
March 4, 2020
I would like to control the doors and windows in my house by remotes!
Gautham ganesh
March 4, 2020
Awesome? thanks byjus
Yelisetty varun
March 4, 2020
It was great to learn and know about remot thankyou for sending us #nd iWant to know about wireless remote can you send me
Harvir Kaur
March 4, 2020
Knowing something interesting.
*Thanks*
Harvir Kaur
March 4, 2020
Very nice knowing something interesting
Jai
March 4, 2020
Really interesting amazing and intriguing facts! Aren’t they?
Anaya
March 4, 2020
Interesting history of remote.even I would say like Shaivi said . Didn’t believe even remote control had some history!!
Snehal
March 4, 2020
So interesting. I had never thought about a common TV remote before.
Shatàkshi baberwal
March 4, 2020
Wow ……so interesting for me
Aditya
March 4, 2020
Interesting
Tanuja
March 4, 2020
To cool
Dheepak G
March 4, 2020
Lots of thinking and knowledge
Nikitha
March 4, 2020
Super
Samir Dutta
March 3, 2020
It’s wonderful. Evolution of remote control. It’s amazing.????
Gleaming gauri???
March 3, 2020
I don’t know there will a mystery behind this subject thanks for this wonderful story
Ghazal Reji
March 3, 2020
This is fascinating.WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Byjus for this amazing information
Jai sharma
March 3, 2020
Wha very very interesting
Sakshi Suryakant Kulkarni
March 3, 2020
Great revolution of remote. Thank you BYJU’S
CH daksh
March 3, 2020
That’s our future gadgets ?????
Sparsh singh
March 3, 2020
Human brain is awesome!!!!
Dhananjaya
March 3, 2020
Super ?
G bhanuparkash
March 3, 2020
Thanks to BYJU’S my study approach has changed.
Ishita bhalla
March 3, 2020
Interesting thanks for giving us soo much of knowledge byjus
Mahalaxmi. S. S
March 3, 2020
Superb!!! I never knew this!
Aarohi
March 3, 2020
Send me things like this I liked it ????
Aman Prakash Singh
March 3, 2020
Awesome!!!! You gave us great knowledge
Thank you Byjus’s
Prithvi Subhash
March 3, 2020
That’s a lot of helpful information. All thanks to BYJU’S ???
Christy dixon
March 3, 2020
Awesome
Mugil
March 3, 2020
Interesting. Nice
Riyan
March 3, 2020
Love to see these revolutionary thingas?
Aditi Kumari
March 3, 2020
This is an awesome and interesting thing for this month ?????????
Manthan
March 3, 2020
Cool interested !!
Hanshitha
March 3, 2020
Interesting
Harsh
March 2, 2020
Interesting
Nishant
March 2, 2020
Quite interesting . Then humans from the flasmatic times,were able to operate TV by sitting on acouch with ease………. Quite indigenous
Samaira mahajan
March 2, 2020
Interesting n fun to read!
Gauri
March 2, 2020
I like this remote story thanku zenith radio cooperation for this comfortable remote of TV and also thanku byju for telling this knowledgeable story♡♡
Vaibhav
March 2, 2020
Lots of knowledge and this is helpful to me
Sanika Kendre
March 2, 2020
What a cool fact!Heard first time only because of Byju’s
Noel
March 2, 2020
Wow.it also inspired me to work on these things
Aryan Raj
March 2, 2020
Knowledge is power!!!
Thank you Byju!!For upgrade knowledge
!!!?????????????
Noel
March 2, 2020
Wow.it also inspired me to work on some this remote.even simplest things
Revolutionary.
Himnish
March 2, 2020
It is interesting. I have learnt a new thing.
Harkawal singh
March 2, 2020
It is cool and intresting
Tejas
March 2, 2020
It is nice and also intresting I like it
Sampada
March 2, 2020
Yo it’s something new thing I get to know today
S kareemulla
March 2, 2020
Is there any future advanced remote control ?
Elton
March 2, 2020
amazung
Harsh
March 2, 2020
Good information source
MOUKTHIKA
March 2, 2020
the information was useful .I never knew this information before. Thank you
Mithun Raj .P
March 2, 2020
Wonderful????
Koshal
March 2, 2020
Cool
Charan
March 2, 2020
Cool!!it’s interesting
Abhinav Gupta
March 2, 2020
Interesting thing about remote
Mandeep kaur
March 2, 2020
Interesting …. got to know many things about remote’s evolution and liked it very much
Samuel
March 2, 2020
Wow I am amazed ?
Tushar Gautam
March 2, 2020
Knowledgeable and interesting
Nehal surve
March 2, 2020
Interesting!
Rishabh
March 2, 2020
Very informative
Shivansh Mishra
March 2, 2020
Please do also give articles on the history of programming languages.
Rahul
March 2, 2020
It’s really useful … Thank you !!
Sharvesh
March 2, 2020
Thank you for your information about remote control.
Kasinadh
March 2, 2020
Wowwwww I didn’t knew that this was the history of remote control machines. Thanks to byjus for this
information ??????
saziya bano
March 2, 2020
interesting….thnk uhh Byjus
Dikshit Rishi Jain
March 2, 2020
Interesting!!!
The next type of remote controls to be in the form voice controllable and gesture controllable…
Prithvi
March 2, 2020
Remotes also have a revolution. Intresting!
Anik Chowdhury
March 2, 2020
Lots of knowledge and much more fun thank you byjus.
Prince
March 2, 2020
Interesting…
Utkarsha
March 2, 2020
Thank u byjus for this information
DILIP PARIDA
March 2, 2020
Very informative…thank you byjus
DILIP PARIDA
March 2, 2020
Very informative…
Tarun Ramesh
March 2, 2020
Thanks for the knowledge
Arunkumar
March 2, 2020
This is very interesting idea. Thanks for giving lots of studies. This is a remote control which is from early year 1930 up to the later year 1980. Byjus is a very interesting app. I like it very much. Thank you
Srishti
March 2, 2020
Interesting
Syed Shumail Ali
March 2, 2020
Interesting
Palaash
March 2, 2020
Nice and good
Sampada
March 2, 2020
Very interesting ! Thank you byjus
ATIKSH SHARMA
March 2, 2020
HISTORY OF REMOTE. OUTSTANDING!!!!THANKS A LOT BYJU’S
Abhinash Mohanta
March 2, 2020
Wonderful innovation by humans.
Arun
March 2, 2020
The latest remote control seems to be the same technology used in philco mystery control. Only the size has changed and hence the portability and handling. Isn’t it?
Shweta
March 2, 2020
Nice and Interesting ☺☺?
Rashmi
March 2, 2020
Wow!!!so intresting.Thank you byju’s
Aryan
March 2, 2020
Awesome. Thanks Byju ??
Sanskriti dewangan
March 2, 2020
Interesting ?
Siddhi
March 2, 2020
It was interesting and has lots of knowledge
Akansha nagae
March 2, 2020
Interesting
ERANKI LOKESH
March 2, 2020
SPACE COMMAND REMOTE CONTROL VERY INTRESTING
Divyam Giri
March 2, 2020
Superb, This will help me to increase my knowledge
Yashika
March 2, 2020
Interesting
Samadrita sen
March 1, 2020
Lots of knowledge..
Shaivi
March 1, 2020
Cool!!
Never thought that even the remote was a revolution.
It is sooo easy !
Thank you byju !????
Riya
February 29, 2020
Interesting