TV remote control inventor Eugene Polley dies at 96

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life. 

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

If necessity is the mother of invention, why do those innovations we find we cannot live without only after they are created, become necessity?  I suppose the true geniuses are those that know what we need before we know.   I am sorry to see that Eugene Polley died, but glad that he lived such a long, productive and, I would imagine, satisfying life.  

Amy - you Berted - I think perhaps the record held thus far. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL.  Have a safe and pleasant week-end.

When I saw the number of comments up top, I thought I was in for a nice long Saturday morning having a good read in bed - poor AmyBecherer - it's a common problem on this page, don't worry.
Good morning everybody- it's another beautiful day here. Y'all have a Happy Memorial Day.

Amy Berted ... but thats OK ... it happens a lot around here .......
 
Good On You All For This Weekend !!!!!!!

I felt my ears burning, so I logged in, and sure enough I discovered that my name was being used in vain...lol. Sometimes I wish we had the capacity to edit or delete our own posts. And spell check...yup. Everybody in The Colonies please be extra careful this holiday weekend, there's a virtual army of holiday drivers out there, and sometimes you can cut the stress with a knife. Nobody wants to start out on Tuesday with bad news from someone in the virtual village. Think I'll try to heed my own advice, and stay close to home. Now if only I could find my remote control... I just have to love the Brits, they write up the wackiest and most obscure stories, AND manage to do it with a straight face. Monday is our little community's traditional parade, I'm afraid we're fresh out of ambulatory WWII veterans, but somehow the VFW cobbles together a color guard & a pastor to say a few words in behalf of the fallen.....

AmyBecherer...we've all done this. For some reason, on this site, it appears to stay put Just refresh or go somewhere else for a sec and it finally posts. Don't let it keep you away.

When the children were young, it was they that were my husband's remote but now he has the real thing......several and they are all clicking away merrily. Has a study been done about men and the remote? Is it a control thing? I will sometimes look up from my book or computer to see channels fast pacing through and I'll know without checking that he fell asleep with the remote in his hand much as Linus and his blanket.

To all: A happy, safe Menorial Day.

Morning All, Personally without my remote I'd probaby just sit here and end up watching a bunch of stuff I don't want to watch because I'm too lazy to get up and change the channels...  I hope you all have a great/safe memorial weekend!

Buried on his couch with a bag of chips, a tall boy, and an unfinished Honey Do list and thanks to the inventors among us we all live like the Jetsons without realizing it.

As usual, Well Done, Tommy!

Ode to the Remote Control:

The clicker
Is quicker,
By golly,
Thank you, Mr. Polley

Andy, hear hear!

Amy, welcome and thank you for rousting Bert!

When I first moved up here I had an extended stay with friends. My hostess always retired early leaving me the remote (or "telecommando" as they called it in their Roman home)to watch tv. I had the worst time with it. No matter what I did, the channels would jump around, the volume would go up and down and sometimes I would just give up. I am embarrassed to tell you how long it took for me to look up at the balcony overlooking the livingroom and find my friend's son with HIS telecommando in hand amusing himself tormenting the houseguest.
It was so funny I could not be angry.

Andy~I'd forgotten about us as kids being dad's remote control. In addition to changing the setting on the old battery powered radio we'd also hear 'And whle you're not doing anything, how about running down to the spring and get me a cool drink of water  out the north corner of the spring! What do I look like? A chicken that never pees? But .before you go here, quick!  quick! Pull my finger!"

George .. Ha ha ha. Mine was "while you're up....". And I wasn't.

In our first apartment, the couple downstairs had that first remote that connected to your television by a long cable......when they would change Chanel's, well, so would we.

lotlot  ~ I'd have pronounced the name otherwise.  
Here's to Eugene Polley
Inventor of the remote control, he
mastered TV
and all he would see
from Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie.

TT:  Yes, buried between two couch cushions. 

If you are somewhat roly
With blubber clinging to
You torso
Give thanks to Mr. Polley
Who made doing nothing
More so

Stoney~Don't forget the funny story ...something about 6 letters, 3 r's and a peeker?

Thank you to everyone for the kind welcomes and not making me feel like the idiot I am!  Have a safe holiday.  I'm going to enjoy the time at home and off the roads.

Bravo Amy!~ look forward to hearing more from you.
Eeewww, I'm tired, what with exceptionally hot weather and guests for the weekend. It's just turned midnight in Wales and my bed beckons - no duvet as it's so warm. Nos Da, dear people. x

Nos Da Hazel -- and, Amy, glad you came back, looking forward to hearing more from you.

Terror? Mirror? Horror?

Working aforementioned remote after a day in the intense rays of Ol' Sol. Falling asleep with the black box on my chest is not uncommon. Once in a cramped hotel room a bogus remote was overcome by sliding down to the end of the bed and using my toes to switch the channels. One must often improvise on the road.

Wow, Tommy Typical, you are quite the innovator yourself!  You paint a hilarious picture that I bet the inventor never envisioned.  Or, maybe he did.  Imagination is key!

Hazel, I don't know very much about Wales.  I'm curious now, though.  I'll have to do a little research.  I live in St. Louis, Missouri and it was 98 degrees with high humidity today, typical for the midwest.  One year ago, a nearby part of Missouri was nearly wiped off the map due to a series of tornados, one being an F5 with 200 mph winds.  161 people died.  They are slowly rebuilding.  Yesterday on the local news, the meteorologist claims that "tornado alley" is being widened on the map, with St. Louis being dead center.  My brother, a PhD microbiologist at UC, Davis in California, (My family is from MO.), often says he can't understand why anyone would choose to live here.  I think he has a point.

Here at 10:30 on Sat. night, I am reading the Eye Village posts, instead of cleaning up the kitchen....much more pleasant here. Cheeseburgers and corn for dinner.

Took the grandgirl out to ride the horses at noon and it was hot...93 here today. Then for a milkshake and shopping in the horse store for "real riding pants." Hitting the big pool tomorrow late afternoon. Ribs on Monday.

Thank you Eugene Polley for the convenience of the remote control device. I have a little basket on the table between his chair and mine,and it is understood that when the remotes leave one's hand, they go back in the basket! No lost remotes! Magic marker instructions on the DVD one, such as "TV must be on Ch 3."

There is one for the Netflix/Roku thingie, one for the DVD-VHS (yes, we still have hundreds of movies on VHS!), one for the music speakers- all 5 of them, one for the TV, one for the Xfinity to change from TV to video to Roku-HD, so you see why some sense of basket order is required. Please don't say "Universal Remote"! We had one and it is so complicated neither of us knew what to press for which function...threw it away.

Now, nearly every appliance has a remote...How much more inactive will humans become? Did anyone see the sedentary space ship full of inactive people in "Wall-E" ?? However, again, I salute Eugene Polley for a really helpful invention....all that walking up to change the channel would no doubt have doomed the entire TV industry.

Amy, ok, you made your point. Hit Send lightly once. You are right to honor Mr. Polley for a worthwhile piece of work!

TT - I believe I have seen that same posture here from my guy...asleep with the remote on the chest, and having no idea what nonsense is blaring from the TV....or his show has transformed into a ladies show and he is oblivious.

ChefDeb - Good laugh on the wiseguy kid with the other remote.....I once had that problem with a TV in the darkened classroom and a smart aleck who planned and brought his remote ...changing the educational channel...never did figure how the one he had was programmed to the same combo as the one in the classroom. Turned on the lights and caught him! Called home, gave detention, and stopped his life of TV manipulation crime right there.

"Night all"...............This life of being grandmother 24/7 is already wearing me out, and I still have 13 days to go! Going to the pillows....pleasant dreams to all Villagers!

Amy, I'm glad you didn't let a little Berting stop you from returning. I live in California and many people wonder the same thing about living here with the threat of eathquakes. I guess there really isn't any place that doesn't have some kind of weird, hazardous weather or seismic activity threatening to disrupt our lives. I don't think about it much.

I'm with you Janej78, if I worried about everything, including looking like a fool, I'd hide in shame over my Berting escapade.  In fact, I'd have missed out on some of the best of times.  I am a bit reclusive by nature, but when I want to do something, I do it.  I've found, as I've gained years, I've lost the fear that inhibited me as a young adult.  Probably a good thing all the way around.  BTW, glad to meet you, Janej.

You too Amy! and I agree about aging...I've realized that whatever will be will be.....some things are out of my control, so why worry.  I was a bit reclusive too until a few years ago....

I'm just suddenly reminded of the first TV that I bought...sometime in my 30s... and I chose one without a remote thinking what's the big deal, I can easily get up and change the channel...well, never again...I want a remote. 

My sister and I were the remote growing up.... AND the diswasher.   After we got married and moved away Dad bought new TV w/remote and a dishwasher.  LOL  I don't think Mom was into jumping and running at his command.  It was probably the women's liberation movent that caused a man to realize it was time to invent  something to replace the yelling.  He thought Mom needed a hearing aide .... NO she just ignored him.  I miss them both.

Ha, great one gege!

Hi gegebliss, I agree with Penn.