Something Extra: Remote Reality

MIAMI (CBS4) - Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers... some inventors who change our lives become household names.

Others live in obscurity, not getting the recognition they deserve for making our lives much easier.

Eugene Polley is one of those.  The native Chicagoan died at 96 this week.  I'd never heard of him, but he's responsible for something most of you are holding in your hands right now.

In 1955, the Zenith engineer invented the Flashmatic, the first wireless television remote control.  It looked like a big green hair dryer, using light to control a TV.

The Flashmatic had some problems, so other, sound-based remotes became more popular, until decades later, when Polley's approach won out.

Nicknamed "Zapper," he not only changed the way we watch television, but television itself.

Once we weren't forced to get off our butts to change the channel, TV programs and commercials had adjust to hold our attention and stop us from zapping.

Without him, there we would be no couch potatoes.  So tonight, we should all stay on our couches and raise our remotes to honor the man who made that possible.