History of TV Remote Control

The TV remote control as we know it today was invented by Robert Adler, a US inventor with 180 patents for electronics devices. His widow said the remote was not his favourite invention, as he rarely watched television and was "more of a reader".

One of the earliest examples of remote control was developed in 1893 by Nikola Tesla. He called his patent Method of an Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vehicle or Vehicles.

Remote control mechanisms were used by the Germans for motorboats during WWI, and the Soviet Red Army for their teletanks during 1930s in the war against Finland and the early stages of the Great Patriotic War.

The first TV remote control attached to the TV with a cord was produced by Zenith Radio Corporation in 1950. It was called "Lazy Bones". The founder-president of corporation yarned for a device that could be used to mute the sound of commercials.

The next generation of TV remote controls operated by flashing at photo cells in the TV. However, it had its disadvantages too: if the TV sat in an area where the sun shone directly on it, the remote’s tuner might start rotating.