Before you grab the popcorn, close the curtains and apologize to the dog. Early TV remotes had a strange habit of changing channels when sunlight hit the television, and one version used ultrasonic sounds that reportedly sent some dogs into a barking frenzy. The road to today’s remote control was a lot weirder than most of us realize.
If you’ve ever misplaced the TV remote, you’re not alone. It’s probably hiding between the couch cushions, under a blanket or somehow in the refrigerator. But as frustrating as losing it can be, the remote itself has a surprisingly bizarre history.
The first television remote control didn’t have buttons, batteries or even infrared technology. Introduced in 1950 by Zenith, it was called the “Lazy Bones.” While the name might sound like something from a Saturday morning cartoon, it was serious business. The remote connected to the television with a long cable stretched across the living room floor.
As you can imagine, people didn’t exactly love tripping over the cord. So just five years later, Zenith engineers tried again with a wireless version called the Flash-Matic. Instead of using radio waves or infrared signals, it worked by shining a beam of light at sensors placed in the corners of the television.
It sounded futuristic, but there was one small problem — sunlight. If the afternoon sun hit the TV just right, the channels could change all by themselves. Curtains became an unexpected part of the entertainment system.
The breakthrough came in 1956 with the Space Command remote. Rather than batteries, it used tiny aluminum rods that produced ultrasonic sounds when buttons were pressed. Humans couldn’t hear the tones, but the television could. Some dogs reportedly disagreed, reacting every time someone changed the channel.
Today’s remotes rely on infrared signals, voice commands and even smartphone apps, but they all owe a debt to those early inventors who were determined to help viewers avoid getting up from the couch.
So the next time you spend 15 minutes searching for the remote, remember this: At least you don’t have to untangle a 15-foot cord or hope the sun doesn’t decide to switch your favorite show.
Bizarre Bytes gives us those unusual facts that you only need to know for Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, or to stump your in-laws.
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