Why do remote controls use infrared light instead of other wavelengths?
In: Technology
IR is cheap and energy-efficient.
Also, the waves attenuate very quickly and can’t penetrate through material, which is actually very beneficial for TVs.
If the waves could over-penetrate, you would have to worry about your neighbor changing your channel. Generally speaking, you’re only going to be using the remote in front of the actual TV, so LOS isn’t an issue.
Not only that, but the lack of interference from other TVs makes it easier to program the remote itself, because you don’t need as many complex ID mechanisms to make sure the right remote is interacting with the right TV.
You can use much more generic signals because of this, which makes everything cheaper and simpler.
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