The remote control received its first debut via Nikolai Tesla in 1898. While his was first demonstrated as a method for operating a small model boat, the definition of the phrase "remote control" has linguistically narrowed in the minds of Americans, so much so that it by-and-large is used simply to refer to "the thing that turns the T.V. on and off." If you sit down and look at the words composing it, the "remote control" is really the key to a slew of future technologies. "Control," as in having command over something, and "remote," as in you don’t even need to be there to do it. The military realized this a few years back when they came out with an unmanned fighter drone that could be, you guessed it, remotely controlled by a skilled technician; a skilled technician who no longer has to risk his life flying into dangerous airspace. While this is an extreme example of the technology, it’s been slowly making our lives easier for years now. Your garage door opener, the unlocking mechanism in your car keys (some can even start your car for you), even turning on and off lights now have remote control technology in them; and that’s just for starters.

A company called Skylink has made the next step in remote controls by applying it to—well, basically everything else electronic in your house. Coming in a variety of models, from a simple one button model to a fourteen button "do I even have this many electronic devices in my house" model, the Skylink remote takes us one step closer to being The Jetsons. Granted it still can’t prepare your food for you, but it makes a number of activities seem like maybe you have an invisible butler that you don’t have to pay. The remote can: turn on your coffee maker, boot up your computer, control your lights, including setting up motion sensor grids for them, arm your security system, control the stereo and TV, turn fans on and off, and just go ahead and THINK of an electrical system. The Skylink can probably be wired up to control it; just don’t sit on the thing. Even technologies that remotes were already taking care of are enhanced by this remote’s capabilities. Say you’re sitting down to watch the game on TV, and you have a friend coming over but he’s running late. Right during an especially tense play, your friend comes knocking at your door; you don’t want to leave him out there, but you can’t miss this play either. You could, however, just grab the Skylink that’s wired up to your garage door opener and let him in that way. I mean, if you want to take the easy way out (of course you do.) The Skylink’s wireless system can even be wired up to a variety of homes to ease your house-sitting duties when your parents are out of town. The future is here, and it’s in the trusty old remote control.