Episode 8

Episode 8: From Tesla to Smart Homes: The Fascinating History of Remote Control

In this episode of 'It Started Somewhere,' host Shaimond explores the fascinating history of remote control technology. Starting with Nikola Tesla's groundbreaking wireless controlled boat in 1898, the episode traces the development of remotes through key inventions and advancements, including Zenith's Lazy Bones and Flashmatic, Robert Adler's ultrasonic Space Command, and the transition to infrared technology in the 1980s. The episode highlights the impact of remote controls on consumer electronics, particularly in television, and examines the latest innovations in smart home technology, voice control, and AI integration.

Contact Me at itstartedsomewhere@gmail.com

Transcript
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There are synonymous with TV,

but are used for so much more.

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If you were born in the early

80s, or before, you are one.

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You guessed it, the remote control.

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It's hard to imagine now, but there was

a time when you had to get up and walk

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across the room to turn the TV channel

with a knob that was attached to the TV.

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So archaic, isn't it?

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But we use remotes for so many things.

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So I decided to dedicate

an episode to this.

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Welcome to It Started Somewhere,

a podcast about popular products,

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places, and things we know about, but

may not know the story behind them.

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I'm Shaimond, and today we're diving

into the history of the remote control.

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A device that has revolutionized our

interaction with technology and became

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an integral part of our daily lives.

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Our story begins in the late 19th century.

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Long before the advent of television.

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In 1898, the brilliant Serbian American

inventor Nikola Tesla unveiled one of the

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world's first wireless remote controls at

Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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Tesla's invention, which he called

teleautomation was a system capable

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of controlling various mechanical

contraptions using radio waves.

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For his groundbreaking demonstration,

Tesla showcased a miniature boat

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equipped with a small metal antenna.

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This antenna could receive a single radio

frequency, allowing Tesla to control the

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boat's movements using a box with a lever.

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In a telegraph key.

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By manipulating these controls,

Tesla could adjust the boat's rudder

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and propeller settings, effectively

steering it from a distance.

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While Tesla's remote control boats

didn't achieve commercial success, his

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invention laid the foundation for future

developments in remote control technology.

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The U.

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S.

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Navy Tesla's intended client

deemed the technology too

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fragile for warfare applications.

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However, the concept of remote control

had been born and it was soon spread

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to various other fields in the wake of

Tesla's breakthrough Spanish inventor,

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Leonardo Torres Quevedo made significant

strides in remote control technology.

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He successfully used wireless

telegraph transmitters to control

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a tricycle, an engine power boat.

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and even submarine torpedoes.

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This potential of remote

controlled technology didn't go

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unnoticed by military forces.

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During World War I, the German Navy

employed remote controlled boats laden

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with explosives to attack enemy ships.

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This marked the beginning of a new era

in warfare, where armed forces could

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direct armaments from a safe distance.

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The military applications of

remote control technology continued

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to evolve during World War II.

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Both German and American forces

experimented with and deployed a range

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of guided missiles and torpedoes.

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These advancements in remote

control technology would later

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pave the way for more sophisticated

applications in civilian life.

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As we enter the 1930s and 40s,

remote control technology began to

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find its way into consumer products.

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Garage door openers and model

airplanes were among the first consumer

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electronics to feature remote controls.

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However, the real revolution in

remote control technology would

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arrive with the rise of television.

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The year 1950 marked a

significant milestone in the

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history of remote controls.

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Zenith Radio Corporation, now known as

Zenith Electronics, developed the first

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TV remote control called the Lazy Bones.

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This early remote was connected to

the television set by a cable that

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ran across the living room floor.

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The Lazy Bones operated by pushing

buttons that rotated the TV tuner

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clockwise or counterclockwise,

allowing viewers to change channels

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to higher or lower numbers.

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It also included buttons

to turn the TV on and off.

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While consumers appreciated the

convenience of remote control, they

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weren't thrilled about the unsightly cable

stretching across their living rooms.

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In 1955, Zenith engineer Eugene J.

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Poley invented the Flashmatic,

the industry's first

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wireless TV remote control.

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The Flashmatic operated

using four photocells.

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One on each corner of the screen,

viewers used a highly directional

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flashlight to activate the four

control functions, which could turn the

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picture and sound on and off and change

channels by rotating the tuner dial.

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While Flashmatic pioneered the

concept of wireless TV remote

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control, it had its limitations.

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The device lacked protection circuits.

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And if sunlight shone directly

on a TV, it could cause the tuner

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to start rotating on its own.

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The next breakthrough in remote control

technology came from Zenith, Dr.

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Robert Adler.

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He proposed using ultrasonic high

frequency sound beyond the range of

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human hearing for remote control.

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Adler led a team of engineers in

developing the first use of ultrasonic

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technology in home remote controls.

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The result was the Zenith

Space Command, which went into

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production in the fall of 1956.

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The Space Command transmitter

used no batteries.

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and was built around aluminum

rods that, when struck, emitted

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distinctive high frequency sounds.

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The original remote had four rods,

each controlling a different function.

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Channel up, channel down, sound on,

sound off, and power on and off.

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The space command was a technical success.

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Despite being expensive, due to the

elaborate receivers needed in the TV

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set, it was later adopted by other

manufacturers and dominated the remote

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control market for a quarter of a century.

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By the early 1980s, the remote

control industry transitioned to

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infrared technology, or IR for short.

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IR remotes work by using a low frequency

light beam, invisible to the human eye,

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but detectable by a receiver in the TV.

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This shift to IR technology, coupled with

Zenith's development of cable compatible

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tuning and teletext technologies, greatly

enhanced the capabilities of TV remotes.

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The contributions of remote control

pioneers have not gone unrecognized.

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In 1997, co inventors Robert Adler

and Eugene Polley, jointly received

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an Emmy from the National Academy of

Television Arts and Sciences for their

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pioneering development of wireless

remote controls for consumer television.

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In 2006, they were further honored with

the Technology Leadership Award from

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broadcasting and Cable Magazine for the

groundbreaking contribution to television

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viewing and the use of electronic devices.

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As we enter the 21st century, remote

control technology continued to evolve.

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The rise of smart home technology has led

to the development of universal remotes

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capable of controlling multiple devices.

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These advanced remotes can

manage everything from TVs to air

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conditions and security systems.

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More recent innovations

include device powered remotes

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like Microsoft's SmartGlass

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which turns tablets or smartphones into

remote touchpads for gaming consoles.

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We've also seen the emergence of

hands free remotes such as Microsoft

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Kinect, which used cameras to

track movement and allow users to

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control devices through gestures.

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Voice control has become

increasingly prevalent with many

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modern remotes incorporating

microphones for voice commands.

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This technology has been further expanded

with the rise of smart speakers and

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virtual assistants, which control various

home devices through voice commands alone.

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As we look to the future,

The possibilities for remote

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control technology seem endless.

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We're already seeing the integration

of artificial intelligence and machine

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learning into remote control systems,

allowing for more intuitive and

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personalized control of our devices.

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The Internet of Things, IOT.

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is also reshaping the landscape

of remote control technology.

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As more of our devices become

interconnected, we're moving towards a

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future where we can control virtually

every aspect of our home environment

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from a single device or even through

thought controlled interfaces.

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However, with these advancements

come new challenges.

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The increasing sophistication of

remote control technology raises

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concerns about privacy and security.

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As our remotes become more connected

and control more aspects of our lives,

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they also become potential targets

for hackers and cybercriminals.

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From Tesla's radio control boat to today's

AI powered smart home systems, the history

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of the remote control is a testament

to human ingenuity and our constant

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drive to make life more convenient.

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What started as a simple device to

change TV channels has evolved into

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a universal tool that shapes how we

interact with the world around us.

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As we continue to push the boundaries

of what's possible with remote control

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technology, One thing is certain, the

humble remote control, in whatever form

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it takes, will remain an integral part

of our increasingly connected world.

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It's a reminder that even the most

commonplace objects in our lives have

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rich history and exciting futures.

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I'm Shaimond and thank you for

joining me on this journey of the

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history of the remote control.

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Remember, every object around us has

a story and it all started somewhere.

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Until next time, keep exploring,

keep questioning, and keep

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appreciating the incredible

innovations that have shaped our world.

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I'll catch you on the next episode.

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