A Brief History of the Remote Control

Remote controls help us manage our home entertainment centers, giving us quick and convenient access to various video and audio content. While remote controls became widely available in the 1970s and 80s, the devices actually have their roots in the late 1800s.



Nikolai Tesla created possibly the world’s first remote control, using radio waves to control a small model boat. The first work in television remote controls occurred in the 1950s, when researchers created an early remote control which used ultrasound to turn televisions on and off. The technology evolved, and remotes became more sophisticated and capable of managing more functions of the television, and, eventually, other devices, such as VCRs, cable boxes, DVD players, etc.



In the past, specific televisions could only use remotes made by that device’s manufacturer, but in last few decades universal TV remotes that can work with a variety of devices have become common. These remotes emulate the signals transmitted by remotes made by the television, cable box, DVD player, or other device’s maker.



Universal remotes also allow users to manage multiple devices, reducing the number of remotes households have to keep track of. (The average American home has about four remote controls).



Anderic.com sells new and refurbished remote control devices for a wide variety of electronic devices. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and much more. The company also operates a repair service for certain devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.