Eugene Polley Dies, Legacy Remembered With Every Channel Changed
The creator of the wireless television remote has passed away, leaving a lasting legacy on the home television industry and intimate relationship with the avid couch potato.
Eugene J. Polley died Sunday of natural causes at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill. at the age of 96, according to local media reports.
Polley began a career which would span nearly five decades with the Zenith Radio Corporation in 1935. Over the course of his career, he would earn 18 patents mostly in the field of television, and he would be known as the father of the modern day wireless remote.
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During his time at Zenith, he was called upon to help in the war effort by working on radar technology for the U.S. Department of Defense. He also made great advancements in developing the video disk, which preceded the DVDs of today.
Polley developed the "Flash-Matic" remote control in 1955, which was the world's first wireless television remote.
The viewer used a highly directional flashlight to activate the four control functions, which turned the picture and sound on and off and changed channels by turning the tuner dial clockwise and counter-clockwise, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The remotes of today show a minimal resemblance to the original remote given that some modern remotes are able to control multiple functions with the same device. Some of the remotes today have over 50 buttons while the "Flash-Matic" had only four. While the remote was a luxury item when it first came out, it is now standard with the purchase of a TV set.
Eugene J. Polley was born in Chicago on Nov. 29, 1915. He attended City College of Chicago and the Armour Institute.
He is survived by his son, Eugene J. Polley Jr., and grandson, Aaron. He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche, and daughter, Joan Polley.
