Remote Control (Object Lessons)

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. While we all use remote controls, we understand little about their history or their impact on our daily lives. Caetlin Benson-Allot looks back on the remote control's material and cultural history to explain how such an innocuous media accessory has changed the way we occupy our houses, interact with our families, and experience the world. From the first wired radio remotes of the 1920s to infrared universal remotes, from the homemade TV controllers to the Apple Remote, remote controls shape our media devices and how we live with them. Object Lesson is published in partnership with an essay series in the The Atlantic. While We All Use Remote Controls, We Understand Little About Their History Or Their Impact On Our Daily Lives. By Emphasizing Volume Control, Channel Shifting, And Multi-function Management, They Tell A Story About Our Experience Of Mass Media, Culture, And Domestic Life. Remote Controls Reveal The Deep Impact Electronics Design Has On Our Self-perception And World-view. This Book Offers Lively Analyses Of The Remote Control's Material, Literary, And Cultural History To Explain How Such An Innocuous Media Accessory Can Change The Way We Occupy Our Houses, Interact With Our Families, And Experience The World. From The First Wired Radio Remotes Of The 1920s To Infrared Universal Remotes, From The Homemade Tv Controllers To The Apple Remote, Remote Controls Shape Our Media Devices And How We Live With Them-- A Material, Literary, And Cultural Exploration Of How The Remote Control, A Seemingly Innocuous Media Accessory, Impacts Our Perception And World-view-- Changing Volumes And Values -- Convenience, Necessity, Nuisance -- It's Complicated. Caetlin Benson-allott. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "While we all use remote controls, we understand little about their history or their impact on our daily lives. By emphasizing volume control, channel shifting, and multi-function management, they tell a story about our experience of mass media, culture, and domestic life. Remote controls reveal the deep impact electronics design has on our self-perception and world-view. This book offers lively analyses of the remote control's material, literary, and cultural history to explain how such an innocuous media accessory can change the way we occupy our houses, interact with our families, and experience the world. From the first wired radio remotes of the 1920s to infrared universal remotes, from the homemade TV controllers to the Apple Remote, remote controls shape our media devices and how we live with them"-- Provided by publisher Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. While we all use remote controls, we understand little about their history or their impact on our daily lives. Caetlin Benson-Allot looks back on the remote control's material and cultural history to explain how such an innocuous media accessory has changed the way we occupy our houses, interact with our families, and experience the world. From the first wired radio remotes of the 1920s to infrared universal remotes, from the homemade TV controllers to the Apple Remote, remote controls shape our media devices and how we live with them. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic. Intro; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; List of Illustrations; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Chapter 1 Changing volume and values; Chapter 2 Convenience, necessity, nuisance; Chapter 3 It's complicated; Afterword; Notes; Index "A material, literary, and cultural exploration of how the remote control, a seemingly innocuous media accessory, impacts our perception and world-view"-- Provided by publisher