(R)EVOLUTION - Paul Lipschutz

Paul Lipschutz – The remote control that changes everything

In the history of the automobile, some inventions are notable less for their technical complexity than for their ability to transform everyday actions. The “plip”, a small device that allows you to lock and unlock your car remotely, is one such discreet but revolutionary innovation. Its origins date back to 1978, when Paul Lipschutz devised a device that used an infrared beam to remotely control a vehicle’s central locking system.

Until then, motorists had to mechanically insert a key into the lock of each door, a task that was sometimes tedious and not very secure. With the plip, a simple push of a button is all it takes to activate the system, offering unprecedented convenience and immediate time savings. This idea, both simple and ingenious, profoundly changed the relationship between the driver and their vehicle.

Technology quickly evolved. While the first models worked using infrared, they required a certain degree of precision in the orientation of the device. The arrival of radio frequency further simplified use, allowing drivers to open or close their cars without having to aim at the lock. In the 1990s and 2000s, new generations appeared: hands-free cards and keyless ignition systems took the principle imagined by Lipschutz even further. It was no longer just a question of opening the car remotely, but of making access and use of the vehicle completely seamless, sometimes even without taking the key out of your pocket.

This progress illustrates a dual movement: on the one hand, the continuous improvement of user comfort for motorists, and on the other, the rise in security requirements. As vehicles become more sophisticated, protection against theft is becoming a major issue. Systems inspired by the plip now incorporate encrypted codes, complex electronic protocols and increasingly effective anti-theft devices.

Today, the remote control principle has become an essential standard in automotive equipment. From the smallest city car to the high-end saloon, all vehicles incorporate remote access and start solutions. The idea launched by Paul Lipschutz more than forty years ago continues to shape our daily lives as motorists, combining practicality, comfort and protection.

Behind this small, familiar object, often taken for granted, lies a real revolution in the way we use cars. The remote control shows how an innovation born of a simple intuition can permanently transform habits, to the point of becoming indispensable.