Earlier this month (February) the co-inventor of the remote control, Dr. Robert Adler, passed away at the age of 93.

Few inventors have made as many offerings as Dr. Adler, who has more than 180 patents to his name, not including one he filed Feb. 1st for his work on touch-screen technology. It’s always sad to see a great inventor pass, especially one who worked diligently to the end.

With more than 60 years of work under his belt at Zenith, his most notable creation was in 1956 with the Zenith Space Command remote control. It was based off of his colleague’s work on the “Flashmatic,” a photo cell-based controller created by Eugene Polley. Dr. Adler’s device used ultrasonics, high-frequency sound, to better the product.

What made Dr. Adler such a unique person was his ability to create continuously, as if his appetite for inventing was insatiable. It’s a trait few have these days. He created equipment to amplify ultra high frequency signals for radio astronomers and the U.S. Air Force. His work on surface acoustic waves pushed touch screen technology to what it is today. It’s just a wealth of fantastic work that should motivate us to strive for more in our inventing.

Remember Dr. Adler, and those who’ve made great technological advances that triggered significant change in our lives, by getting up and changing the channel yourself just this once. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to get the exercise.