It’s amazing how far technology has come in the last 30 years or so. Just look at this patent filing from back in 1976 for a TV remote control.
Despite the fact that Zenith had been working on actual wireless remotes since the 1950s, U.S. Patent 3962748 provided for a rudimentary device which allowed you to change the channel without getting your La-Z-Ass out of your La-Z-Boy. The pole had a special attachment on the end to simply let you rotate the channel knob from across the room. I’m surprised there wasn’t an attachment to fetch a beer from the fridge too.
[via Futility Closet via Boing Boing]
