Inventor of TV remote control dies at age 96

CHICAGO: -- TV watchers may want to hit the mute button for a moment of silence. The man who invented the remote control has died at the age of 96, the Chicago Sun Times reported Tuesday.

Eugene "Gene" Polley died Sunday in a Chicago hospital. Polley invented the first wireless TV remote control in 1955 while working as an engineer for Zenith Electronic in Chicago. He received a 2,000-dollar bonus for his historic innovation, but later earned an Emmy award in 1997 for his contributions to television.

The company marketed the device as the Flash-Matic. "A flash of magic light from across the room turns set on, off or changes channels," a company advertisement said. "And you remain in your easy chair!"

The device only worked with Zenith’s Flash-Matic TV, using a light beam that controlled photo cells in each corner of the TV. Historians credit the device with paving the way for TVs with hundreds of channels. They also note that the Flash-Matic had another innovative feature that just as many people might be grateful for: a mute button that allows users to turn off the sound during commercials.

-- The Nation 2012-05-23

RIP from lazy arse couch potato bastards everywhere including myself.

But surely all they had to do to keep him alive would have been to open his back, remove the batteries, put the batteries back in after a few seconds and he'd be on his feet again.

When I was a kid I was the remote control. I'd have to stand next to the TV while my dad would give his commands, "Next. Next. Wait. Go Back....". Thankfully we only had three channels but in those days you had to click around the UHF & VHF dials to find them.

Edited May 23, 201214 yr by koheesti

It's amazing how we overlook these little things. I mean think of how big the dial wold need to be for 100+ channels!

RIP to someone who made our lives a little easier.

I mean think of how big the dial wold need to be for 100+ channels!

Two push buttons would have done the trick if they were ever invented.

Mr. Polley has probably saved me from walking 10,000 miles in my lifetime. RIP and thanks.

Mr. Polley has probably saved me from walking 10,000 miles in my lifetime. RIP and thanks.

A few beers, a pizza and the remote what more is there to life.

Mr. Polley has probably saved me from walking 10,000 miles in my lifetime. RIP and thanks.

A few beers, a pizza and the remote what more is there to life.

A TV to go with them?

Mr. Polley has probably saved me from walking 10,000 miles in my lifetime. RIP and thanks.

A few beers, a pizza and the remote what more is there to life.

A TV to go with them?

...and somebody to get the beers and pizza for you.

Advertisers are probably the only ones popping the champagne cork over this.

Mr. Polley has probably saved me from walking 10,000 miles in my lifetime. RIP and thanks.

A few beers, a pizza and the remote what more is there to life.

A TV to go with them?

...and somebody to get the beers and pizza for you.

You get one of these which comes with a remote as well.

Edited May 24, 201214 yr by chooka

But surely all they had to do to keep him alive would have been to open his back, remove the batteries, put the batteries back in after a few seconds and he'd be on his feet again.

...Or bang him against the coffee table a few times.

Apparently his coffin lid has gone missing. So they've had to sellotape him in.

Mr. Polley has probably saved me from walking 10,000 miles in my lifetime. RIP and thanks.

A few beers, a pizza and the remote what more is there to life.

Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Eugene Polley? Never heard of him.

I always thought the remote control was the work of Frank Zapper. Wasn't that why he was called the 'Mother of

Invention"?

(or the Mothersomething of Invention?)

He was way ahead of his time. R.I.P.

yes they found his body down the side of the settee,lol

At least the dog didn't carry it off and chew on it.