What defines a television remote control? Perhaps you think it is any device that can be used at a distance from the TV. Or maybe, you believe it has to be a wireless◆ gadget. The start of the remote control in the US will vary depending on which definition you choose.
The first, albeit◆ contested, version of the remote control was released in 1950 by Zenith Electronics. Called the Lazy Bones, this device was attached to the television by a long cord◆ and allowed people to change channels and turn the set on and off without getting up from the couch.
The next generation of the remote was completely separate from the television set. Also from Zenith, the Flash-Matic was the first wireless control. The main selling point of this device, which was little more than a flashlight◆, was that viewers could mute the sound during commercial breaks.
The following year, Zenith presented the Space Command remote, which used sound waves as a means of control. The functionality◆ of this device was the same as that of the Flash-Matic, though the mechanics◆ were different. The Space Command’s most lasting legacy is that it gave the remote control the name “clicker” because of the sound its buttons made.
Despite this spate◆ of various designs and updates, the majority of US households didn’t have remotes until the 1980s. In the ‘80s, more channels and the VCR made remotes almost a necessity. This is when devices began to resemble the modern-day remote control. TV remotes now used infrared technology. In addition, controls went from having only a handful of functions to being covered in dozens of buttons.
Today, the remote control is once again changing. Phones and voice-activated devices can now operate smart appliances, suggesting that the end is near for the standard television remote.
1. Which was NOT a technology that has been used in remote controls?
(A) Bright beams◆ of light.
(B) Thermal◆ heat sensors.
(C) Sound vibrations.
(D) Infrared light signals. ---------------------------------------------------------
2. What does the word “contested” suggest in the second paragraph?
(A) The first remote control was featured in an engineering contest.
(B) The name Lazy Bones was opposed by consumers.
(C) The remote control won the battle to be the first type.
(D) The 1950 device is not considered the first remote control by everyone.
--------------------------------------------------------- 3. What function was added to the Flash-Matic remote control?
(A) It could turn the TV on and off.
(B) It could change the channel.
(C) It could turn off the sound.
(D) It could brighten the screen.
--------------------------------------------------------- 4. According to the passage, what was one cause of the remote control’s increase in popularity in the 1980s?
(A) People were becoming lazier than ever.
(B) Viewers wanted to ignore commercials.
(C) More TV channels were becoming available.
(D) Most consumers had access to a smartphone.
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