Zenith Space Command

Zenith Space Command was a pioneering remote control device for televisions first introduced in the 1950s. It was one of the earliest wireless remote controls for TVs, predating the more common infrared remotes that came later.

The Zenith Space Command used ultrasonic sound waves to send commands to the television set. When a button was pressed on the remote control, it emitted an inaudible ultrasonic signal that the TV could detect and interpret as a command, such as changing the channel or adjusting the volume.

The original Zenith Space Command remote was connected to the television by a cable, so it was not entirely wireless. However, it still allowed viewers to control the TV from a distance, a significant advancement. Before this innovation, viewers had to manually adjust the television's controls or use mechanical tuning knobs.

The Zenith Space Command remotes were groundbreaking and became widely popular in their day. They paved the way for the development of more advanced and sophisticated remote control technologies that followed, including the infrared remotes that are now commonly used for televisions and other electronic devices.