Eugene Polley, inventor of the wireless TV remote control, has died. The former engineer for Zenith was 96. The first TV with the technology, called Flash-Matic tuning, hit stores in 1955. From the AP:
The TV came with a green ray gun-shaped contraption with a red trigger. The advertising promised "TV miracles." The "flash tuner" was "Absolutely harmless to humans!" Most intriguing of all: "You can even shut off annoying commercials while the picture remains on the screen."
"TV Remote Control Inventor Eugene Polley Dies at 96" (Thanks, Bob Pescovitz)
