In Pictures: A tribute to the TV remote control - Past, present, and future

A look at the history of remote controls, some of the coolest remotes out now, and what's ahead for changing the channels on your TV.

Eugene Polley, Inventor

Although the form, the number of buttons, and the interface may have changed since Eugene Polley's invention of the Flash-Matic TV remote in 1955, the purpose of the TV remote remains the same: Allow people to control devices and appliances wirelessly without having to get up off the couch.

There's no denying the TV remote's impact on the way we change channels, navigate a DVR, or stream Netflix movies. In honor of Polley, who passed away on May 20 at age 96, here's a look at the past, present, and future of the device, and a collection of some of the most innovative remote controls.

1 of 16
VIEW ALL THUMBNAILS

Most Popular

Tethering tutorial: How to use your iPhone as a modem
Capacitive vs resistive touchscreens
LCD vs plasma vs LED TVs buying guide
How to pick the right size TV for your living room
How to record digital television

Best Deals on PCWorld

TabletsView all »
NotebooksView all »
Mobile PhonesView all »
Printers & ScannersView all »
Networking, Wireless & VoIPView all »

rhs_login_lockSign up to PC World Today for the latest news, reviews and galleries from PC World Australia.