Reaching for the Remote
I chose to write about the remote control and its effects on our culture. I decided on this topic because some people don’t realize how the “clicker” has impacted our lives, and I’m interested in how the remote actually works and how it has changed over the years. The use of a remote would enable one to change the channel, volume, color, and other features while remaining seated in the chair. This prevented the need to get up to change the channel, thus made the life of a person a little bit lazier. There are negative effects from the use of remotes and weight gain is one of the most drastic outcomes.
The first wireless television remote was made public in 1955! Some operated by the use of sound waves (instead of infrared rays), so there was an incident where a toy xylophone actually changed the channels on the TV. As technology advanced, a universal remote was created, an object that could control the TV as well as many other devices.
I’m not quite sure if I should focus strictly on the use of the remote for the television or if I should incorporate other important uses of the remote, such as for military purposes, space explorations, entertainment, unlocking/starting the car and other reasons. Any suggestions? Either way, the remote has had a significant impact on our culture.
Comments
It is interesting that you bring this up. I was thinking about my remote today. I lose my remote a lot. In fact, that was the reason it was on my mind. I wanted to take a break from my studying and watch a little cartoons, I love cartoons. Then, I went to pick it up and it was gone. Instead of just turning the T.V. on. I wondered my apartment back and forth on a search. Never found it, didn't care to watch T.V. anymore, and went back to studying because my break was over. Come to find that it was right next to the T.V. That darn remote! I was so fixed on the remote that I missed that one cartoon that could have made my day:) I can just tell you that my need to use the remote was more than my need to watch T.V. Isn't that ridiculous?
Posted by: Tanna C. | March 10, 2009 12:47 AM
Thoughtful topic! If I were you, I would focus broadly on the technology behind remotes in general, and then more specifically on TV remotes and the way they have changed with time. Make sure to tell the difference between, say a TV remote and a remote for and r/c car, and different things like that. I'm interested in this topic as well, it'll be interesting to see what you've come up with in your researching!
Posted by: Drew | March 10, 2009 1:03 AM
This is a good topic. You really don't realize how much you appreciate your remote control until you have lost it. This could be another topic you could write about in your paper; how we have lost appreciation for the remote because it is something that we have always had
Posted by: Liz K. | March 10, 2009 11:23 AM