The original "Remote Control".

As a kid, a lot of us were the channel changer. I had figured that's why parents had children. That and mowing the lawn.
 

What is that? Looks like a screwdriver taped to a strip of Formica.
 

It's called a "Finglonger". It will be invented by Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth.
GrinfilledCelt
 

Are you kidding? Back in the early 1980s I invented a remote control that used sound tones. It used a lot of LM3900 op amps and LM567 phase-locked loops. And it almost worked.
 

I never understood the need for a remote. It will be a cold day in hell when I'm too damn lazy to have my wife get up and change channels.
Tim
 

TIM, That reminds me of this Q; How many men does it take to open a bottle of beer?
A: None, the Old Lady better have it open when she brings it to me.
RAK
 

Hey Bob H. Being an old fart, I remember that back in the 70’s the TV remotes were ultrasonic. I could rattle my keys and the channel would change to Walter Cronkite telling all how we were losing the war in Vietnam. And that is the real reason the remotes now operate on IR.
 

Heh. I guess I'm an old fart. I remember a remote that made a loud clicking sound. Sylvania, I think? Anyway, the click was annoying as hell but it sure beat getting up to change the channel.
 

To this day we still say "Where's the clicker," and the kids still yell, "remote, not clicker!" Our German Shepherd Boomer would often turn the tv on in the middle of the night with her collar and tags.
 

I did that with a bamboo fishing pole in the '60s. (At least '69, I remember watching the moon landing on that set.)

Hey, how come my code word starts with bbw? I ain't inta fat chix.
 

Way to funny Tim. There was a pecking order I was the remote till Dad left Then my Litle brother was. Or he got Tickled. Good times Dad wopped me upside the head. MY favorite show Rat Petrol

SPANKY