Control Freak

The Remote Control(s) (pic from goggle images)

One of the most genius devices ever created that helped make life easier and convenient for everyone including all my fellow lazy people around the world has to be the Remote Control. "Eugene J. Polley, an electronics engineer who revolutionized American leisure by inventing the first wireless TV remote control, a gadget that also featured the first mute function to silence the more obnoxious sounds of television, died May 20 at a hospital in Downers Grove, Ill. He was 96". (by Emily Langer of the Washington post). This great man invented a device that allowed you to control your favorite electronic device from a distance. Since then the Remote control has got far more advanced and is able to do more then just channel surf and control volume.The modern day Remote control  has continually evolved and advanced over recent years to include Bluetooth connectivity, motion sensor-enabled capabilities and even voice control abilities. Originally the device was intended for the average casual T.V watcher. Since then the remote control is intended for anyone and any and every electronically device created. To completely control one's device from a distance, sometimes even from many yards away and through walls. Its simply magnificent. There are even universal Remote controls on the market that allow you to control every device with just one single Remote. The original meaning of the remote control hasn't changed really. Its purpose was to make life easier and give control in the palm of your hand. Even though its capabilities have evolved the ultimate idea behind it has not in my opinion. The idea to navigate through the device intended from the palm of your hand from a distance is the idea that was executed and brought to us. 

What might have been a problem during the design process might have been a couple things. How big is it going to be, How durable and what type of material should it be made out of ? Perhaps how heavy the final product would be. Comfortability definitely had to be a concern for the designer. Regardless of the first prototype the improvements to follow were excellent and today's remote control is still something that damn near everyone owns in there home and or car. Only thing that still needs to be improved on the device is something that allows you to find remotes when they are lost. Thats still a huge headache when dealing with Remote controls.

References -http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-05-22/entertainment/35455114_1_flash-matic-zenith-physicist-robert-adler-eugene-j-polley