To say there has been a lot of innovation in the area of control is quite the understatement. Now, just about everything comes with its own remote—and they are all pretty special, in their own way.

I remember when we got our first VCR; the remote was tethered to the device. Besides actually cutting the cord, the remote control now comes in many forms. A lot of people are even putting that power into smartphones and tablets, for easy access to AV and some of the other devices in the home.

When it comes to the actual look of the remote, you probably think it hasn’t changed a whole lot. Well, you really need to get out more. For some of you, sometimes the typical stick-style of controller just won’t do. You can point, shoot, and get the job done. However, if you’re looking for a conversation starter—and possibly even a spell starter (pictured above)—take a peek at our slideshow of the 10 Most Unusual Remote Controls.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.