Space Commander

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Space Commander was the first functional wireless remote control for televisions . It was introduced in 1956 by Zenith Electronics Corporation .

history

As early as 1950, Zenith introduced the Lazy Bones remote control - the first remote control ever. However, this was still connected to the television with a cable. This gave rise to the problem that the cable could easily be in the way and trip over. Therefore the remote control was not accepted by the market. However, Zenith founder Eugene F. McDonald insisted on further development because he believed that "the viewer is not ready to endure the annoying television commercials and needs a tool to easily change channels". To solve the problem of tripping hazards, Zenith engineer Eugene Polley developed the Flash-Matic , a remote control that controlled the television using visible light. It was presented to the public in 1955. Various functions could be selected using four light sensors that were attached to the television and that could be viewed separately. The problem arose here, however, that the television was sometimes switched on by the existing light in the room.

Remedy came from Robert Adler . The Zenith employee came up with the idea of using ultrasound to control the television. However, Zenith's marketing department demanded that the new device should not use batteries , as customers could believe the device would be defective if the batteries ran low. Adler then devised a mechanism in which small hammers - similar to a xylophone - hit small aluminum rods and thus generated ultrasonic sounds. In 1956 the first Space Commander series was sold. Ultrasound technology was then used until the 1980s, before it was replaced by infrared technology .

Versions of the Space Commander

See also

Web links

source

Individual evidence

  1. Father of the zapping culture. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . February 23, 2007, accessed May 31, 2018 .
  2. 1956: Zenith Space Commander Remote Control. In: Wired . October 23, 2007, accessed May 31, 2018 .