Man who glued TV watchers to the couch dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

gilligan fanatic · 02-17-2007, 01:54 PM

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Hit the mute button for a moment of silence: The co-inventor of the TV remote, Robert Adler, has died.
Adler, who won an Emmy Award along with fellow engineer Eugene Polley for the device that made the couch potato possible, died Thursday of heart failure at a Boise nursing home at 93, Zenith Electronics Corp. said Friday.

In his six-decade career with Zenith, Adler was a prolific inventor, earning more than 180 U.S. patents. He was best known for his 1956 Zenith Space Command remote control, which helped make TV a truly sedentary pastime.

In a May 2004 interview with The Associated Press, Adler recalled being among two dozen engineers at Zenith given the mission to find a new way for television viewers to change channels without getting out of their chairs or tripping over a cable.

But he downplayed his role when asked if he felt his invention helped raise a new generation of couch potatoes.

"People ask me all the time -- 'Don't you feel guilty for it?' And I say that's ridiculous," he said. "It seems reasonable and rational to control the TV from where you normally sit and watch television."
Various sources have credited either Polley, another Zenith engineer, or Adler as the inventor of the device. Polley created the "Flashmatic," a wireless remote introduced in 1955 that operated on photo cells. Adler introduced ultrasonics, or high-frequency sound, to make the device more efficient in 1956.

Zenith credits them as co-inventors, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded both Adler and Polley an Emmy in 1997 for the landmark invention.
"He was part of a project that changed the world," Polley said from his home in Lombard, Illinois.

Adler joined Zenith's research division in 1941 after earning a doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna. He retired as research vice president in 1979, and served as a technical consultant until 1999, when Zenith merged with LG Electronics Inc.

During World War II, Adler specialized in military communications equipment. He later helped develop sensitive amplifiers for ultra high frequency signals used by radio astronomers and by the U.S. Air Force for long-range missile detection.

Adler also was considered a pioneer in SAW technology, or surface acoustic waves, in color television sets and touch screens. The technology has also been used in cellular telephones.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published his most recent patent application, for advances in touch screen technology, on February 1.
His wife, Ingrid, said Adler wouldn't have chosen the remote control as his favorite invention. In fact, he didn't even watch much television.
"He was more of a reader," she said. "He was a man who would dream in the night and wake up and say, 'I just solved a problem.' He was always thinking science."

Adler wished he had been recognized for more of his broad-ranging applications that were useful in the war and in space and were building blocks of other technology, she said, "but then the remote control changed the life of every man."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/16/obi....ap/index.html

(Can't believe I am using CNN for a source-lol)

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 02-17-2007, 01:57 PM

I just heard! The remote control...genius!! R.I.P.

Lex Luthor · 02-17-2007, 02:12 PM

RIP

This guy saved me a ton of trouble when I was a kid because before the remote, I was my parents remote control.

Janice · 02-17-2007, 02:18 PM

RIP Robert Adler. The remote control is one of the best inventions of convenience of the last century...although my husband drives me up a wall. During a commercial, he has to go around the world and back with the stupid thing. If he's watching tv alone, he can be watching three or four things at once.

Bobby F. · 02-17-2007, 02:41 PM

The remote helped alot of men build up on their beer bellys from having to get up and down so much.

Brian Damage · 02-17-2007, 03:06 PM

GREATEST INVENTION EVER!!!

PrettyinPink55 · 02-17-2007, 07:34 PM

Wow!! R.I.P!!! I don't know what I'd do without a remote!!!

AKA · 02-17-2007, 07:40 PM

Tonight, I will give him a 21-click salute.

Cactus Jack · 02-17-2007, 07:42 PM

RIP,,he made an awesome invention!

catlover79 · 02-17-2007, 11:51 PM

You know, he appeared on a Jay Leno bit about 10-11 years back. Jay said, "Couch potatoes everywhere owe you a debt of gratitude."

Indeed we do! Thank you Mr. Adler and RIP!!

dawsongirl · 02-18-2007, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

RIP Robert Adler. The remote control is one of the best inventions of convenience of the last century...although my husband drives me up a wall. During a commercial, he has to go around the world and back with the stupid thing. If he's watching tv alone, he can be watching three or four things at once.

I think that's a man thing. Drives me insane!

Janice · 02-18-2007, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I think that's a man thing. Drives me insane!

I could take his wallet, his car, his credit cards, you name it. Take his remote, and it's all over, lol.

Fleet · 02-18-2007, 05:47 AM

I misread the title of this post when I first read it.
I thought it said, "Man glued to couch dies while watching TV." Time for me to go back to school!

gilligan fanatic · 02-18-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fleet

I misread the title of this post when I first read it.
I thought it said, "Man glued to couch dies while watching TV." Time for me to go back to school!

LOL

Corolla · 02-19-2007, 11:06 AM

My first thoughts of were some criminal that tied people onto a couch and made them watch TV all day without food and they all died and he died or something.

I have such a strange mind... but anyway, LONG LIVE THE REMOTE.

02-17-2007, 01:54 PM	#1
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	Man who glued TV watchers to the couch dies BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Hit the mute button for a moment of silence: The co-inventor of the TV remote, Robert Adler, has died. Adler, who won an Emmy Award along with fellow engineer Eugene Polley for the device that made the couch potato possible, died Thursday of heart failure at a Boise nursing home at 93, Zenith Electronics Corp. said Friday. In his six-decade career with Zenith, Adler was a prolific inventor, earning more than 180 U.S. patents. He was best known for his 1956 Zenith Space Command remote control, which helped make TV a truly sedentary pastime. In a May 2004 interview with The Associated Press, Adler recalled being among two dozen engineers at Zenith given the mission to find a new way for television viewers to change channels without getting out of their chairs or tripping over a cable. But he downplayed his role when asked if he felt his invention helped raise a new generation of couch potatoes. "People ask me all the time -- 'Don't you feel guilty for it?' And I say that's ridiculous," he said. "It seems reasonable and rational to control the TV from where you normally sit and watch television." Various sources have credited either Polley, another Zenith engineer, or Adler as the inventor of the device. Polley created the "Flashmatic," a wireless remote introduced in 1955 that operated on photo cells. Adler introduced ultrasonics, or high-frequency sound, to make the device more efficient in 1956. Zenith credits them as co-inventors, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded both Adler and Polley an Emmy in 1997 for the landmark invention. "He was part of a project that changed the world," Polley said from his home in Lombard, Illinois. Adler joined Zenith's research division in 1941 after earning a doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna. He retired as research vice president in 1979, and served as a technical consultant until 1999, when Zenith merged with LG Electronics Inc. During World War II, Adler specialized in military communications equipment. He later helped develop sensitive amplifiers for ultra high frequency signals used by radio astronomers and by the U.S. Air Force for long-range missile detection. Adler also was considered a pioneer in SAW technology, or surface acoustic waves, in color television sets and touch screens. The technology has also been used in cellular telephones. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published his most recent patent application, for advances in touch screen technology, on February 1. His wife, Ingrid, said Adler wouldn't have chosen the remote control as his favorite invention. In fact, he didn't even watch much television. "He was more of a reader," she said. "He was a man who would dream in the night and wake up and say, 'I just solved a problem.' He was always thinking science." Adler wished he had been recognized for more of his broad-ranging applications that were useful in the war and in space and were building blocks of other technology, she said, "but then the remote control changed the life of every man." http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/16/obi....ap/index.html (Can't believe I am using CNN for a source-lol)
	__________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

02-17-2007, 02:12 PM	#3
Lex Luthor I'm bringing Lexy back Senior Member Join Date: Jun 07, 2005 Location: The Great White North Posts: 2,374	RIP This guy saved me a ton of trouble when I was a kid because before the remote, I was my parents remote control.
	__________________ I look forward to resuming our verbal judo - Lex Luthor It's a complicated world, Clark. Only the naïve view it in black and white - Lex Luthor Genevieve: "I underestimated you, Lex." Lex: "Well, that’s a common mistake." Lionel Luthor: "We don't need to play games, son." Lex Luthor: "Dad, games are all we got."

02-17-2007, 03:06 PM	#6
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	GREATEST INVENTION EVER!!!
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-17-2007, 07:34 PM	#7
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Wow!! R.I.P!!! I don't know what I'd do without a remote!!!
	__________________ ♥♥♥

02-17-2007, 07:42 PM	#9
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	RIP,,he made an awesome invention!
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

02-17-2007, 01:57 PM	#2
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195	I just heard! The remote control...genius!! R.I.P.

02-17-2007, 02:18 PM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	RIP Robert Adler. The remote control is one of the best inventions of convenience of the last century...although my husband drives me up a wall. During a commercial, he has to go around the world and back with the stupid thing. If he's watching tv alone, he can be watching three or four things at once.

02-17-2007, 02:41 PM	#5
Bobby F. Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 30, 2004 Posts: 3,818	The remote helped alot of men build up on their beer bellys from having to get up and down so much.

02-17-2007, 07:40 PM	#8
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Tonight, I will give him a 21-click salute.

02-17-2007, 11:51 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	You know, he appeared on a Jay Leno bit about 10-11 years back. Jay said, "Couch potatoes everywhere owe you a debt of gratitude." Indeed we do! Thank you Mr. Adler and RIP!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

02-18-2007, 05:47 AM	#13
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	I misread the title of this post when I first read it. I thought it said, "Man glued to couch dies while watching TV." Time for me to go back to school!
	__________________ 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine.

02-19-2007, 11:06 AM	#15
Corolla Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2006 Location: Owen Sound, ON Posts: 2,376	My first thoughts of were some criminal that tied people onto a couch and made them watch TV all day without food and they all died and he died or something. I have such a strange mind... but anyway, LONG LIVE THE REMOTE.