What Did We Do Before We Had Remote Controls?

9,520,000 Results for Remote Controls

I just did a Google search for the words remote controls.  Yes, the number above is what was returned as results for those two words.  What on Earth did we ever do before remote controls were invented?  As far as I can tell, remote controls have been around for a little more than 100 years.  Wikipedia has a decent article that you can access when you click on the link here in remote controls.

As I sit at my desk writing this post, I have two remote controls in view in my office.  One is for a small air conditioner.  The other is for the computer itself.  I'm not counting the remote control apps in my iPhone.  I have several applications, which technically could be described as remote controls.  One is for AT&T U-Verse.  It allows me to record television programs at home, setting it up from wherever I happen to be.  Another is security for the home.  There are more, too.

Remote Controls are Everywhere

Like most other people, we have a plethora of remote controls around the house.  One for the television.  Another for the recording device.  Yet another for the cable provider.  That's 3 for each television and we have 3 throughout the house totaling 9 remote controls.  Then there's the remote controls for the swimming pool settings.  Plus, let's not forget the remote controls for the sound system.  I don't use it, but we've got remote controls for our home printer/fax machine/scanner.  A few of our lamps have remote controls.

This is crazy!  I honestly have never taken the time to think about remote controls and how many of these devices we have.  Clearly, I've just taken them for granted totally accustomed to having them in my life.

Remote Controls Benefits

Like everything, there would not likely be this explosion in remote controls were they not demanded by the consuming public.  When I think of benefits, the convenience factor jumps to mind first and foremost.  It's a whole lot easier to keep your seat and make adjustments from across the room using remote controls than to have to get up and go to wherever it is the thing you're attempting to control is located.

Another benefit is for people who are infirm or unable to get up and move around.  Whether they be elderly or handicapped, remote controls are a whole lot more than convenience.  In some cases, they're a lifesaver.

It's also not all about benefits with remote controls.  How about our sedentary lifestyle.  We're sitting around becoming less physically active and remote controls plays a small role in that.  But it's unlikely that they are the primary culprit.

Remote controls are likely to be here to stay.  Games such as Wii all use remote controls.  Then there's the arena of airplanes, ones for fun and others used for military purposes such as drones that are unmanned.  Today, we're even hearing talk of remote controls being used for passenger flights.  Who would have ever thought that?

Radio Control Model Airplane and Helicopter KORC Club

I hope this post got you thinking more about the increasing involvement of remote controls in so many facets of our lives.