Looked like the first ever remote control for the TV

When people only dreamed of the remote control. Now that we've switched the channels on the TV with a plastic thing that is constantly lost, or even a downloadable app on your smartphone. In 1955, the engineers had no idea what a smartphone. They invented the remote control-a flashlight, which switched the TV using a flood light — and this miracle remote has become a real bomb in the world of electronics.

The first ever remote control for the TV is a model Lazy Bones, invented in 1950 by Zenith (as Zenith Radio Corporation, and now wholly owned by LG Electronics). However, the remote was connected with a TV cable, which began to complain of many buyers.

Then, in 1955, engineering a breakthrough. Engineer of the same company Zenith Eugene Polly has developed the Flash-Matic — the first remote control the remote control without any wires. Miracle thing worked by means of four photocells located in the corners of the TV.

Each photocell in television was responsible for a separate function. Directing a stream of light coming from the panel, at different angles, the user has to change the channel clockwise or counterclockwise, adjust volume, or turned on/turned off the TV.

Diagram of the remote control: change channels with the assistance of four photocells in the corners of the TV

User guide for the original 1955 Zenith Flash-Matic

The first is a remote control Zenith Flash-Matic: "we Need to see it to believe it!"

Despite the sensationalism of the invention, it still had some flaws that began to show up later. For example, the device had no protective circuits. If the TV was in a place where it got direct sunlight, the system could be violated.

TVs were sold with a remote Flash-Matic

The engineering thought went on, and in 1956, a colleague of Eugene Polly, Robert Adler invented a new and improved remote control — Zenith Space Command that operates using ultrasonic waves. The batteries for this remote control is not required.Mechanical buttons inside the panel generated frequency sounds that the microphone catch TV — it could also change channels in one direction only.

The remote control was rather costly for the average man, because it used as many as six additional lamps for signal processing. Later lamps were replaced by transistors — these panels were manufactured and successfully sold the next 25 years until the early 80's were not invented infrared technology.