Do you feel sad when you watch a movie or television show in standard definition (SD) or — worse yet — in black and white? Indeed, television-based technologies have come a long way in roughly 100 years.
In order to appreciate what we have today, a look at the evolution of television might do it justice. It’s amazing to see the origins of the HD technology that Direct TV offers today, along with a look into what the future holds to viewers.
The Turn of the Century — Conceptual Bases of Television Reach Tangibility
In 1880, when the first streetlight was installed (in Wabash, Indiana), Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison were already speculating on the possibility of transmitting images. Bell expressed this possibility with his photo-phone, which he hoped would portray moving pictures.
This was not some outlandish idea, however. The cathode ray tube was already in the works, scientists revealed the possibility for images to be transferred into electronic signals, and, in 1862, the first still image was transmitted over wires in Abbe Giovanna Caselli.
It wouldn’t be long…
First Televisions
John Logie Baird is credited for the first public demonstration of a mechanical television, in January of 1926. To give perspective, Babe Ruth won his fifth (of seven) World Series titles the following year with the Yankees. Charles Jenkins also demonstrated these capabilities (transmission of images over wire circuits), even offering his Radiovisor (1931) as a kit for buyers to put together!
1928, however, marked the first commercially available TV sets. With a screen size of only a couple of inches, the Daven Tri Standard was on sale in the United States. A low point (for consumers) was found in 1930 when Mr. Jenkins broadcasted the first TV commercial. That year, the BBC began regular transmissions, and seven years later, they were in HD in London.
Rising Popularity of Televisions
Though still, of course, in black and white, televisions were starting to take off in the United States in the 1940s. This was quite amazing as televisions were only able to handle a few channels at best.
You could spend anywhere from $100 (for 3”) to $2,495 (for 20”; that would cost $28,000 today) for a TV set, though only one in 10 Americans had reported seeing a television set. The “Day of Infamy” — the attack on Pearl Harbor — was broadcasted on news in the U.S in 1941, marking an important intersection in television and world events.
Television Technology in the 1950s and ’60s
Although Peter Goldmark (of CBS) demonstrated the color television set in the late 1940s, it was in the ’50s when the FCC would approve the first (1950) and second (1953) standard. The technology was interestingly already present, though; the first color transmission occurred in 1928 and the first broadcast in 1938.
That wasn’t all, though. Videotape systems and remote controls were finally practical and introduced in 1956. The years 1960 and 1962 saw the first split screen broadcast (for the Kennedy–Nixon debates) and required UHF tuners in all sets, respectively. By 1967, most broadcasts were in color, and half of TVs were color sets by approximately 1972.
Modern Televisions — The 1980s to Today
By the ’80s, televisions were becoming reminiscent of those that you might see today. While they weren’t to 16:9 widescreen or HD, they were becoming bigger and better. Televisions were able to receive stereo TV broadcasts, Dolby surround sound was introduced for home sets, and satellite TV was certainly in the mix already.
It wasn’t long until televisions were able to handle widescreen, HD satellite/cable broadcasts, and more of the features that are commonly known. Today, for instance, you can view Direct TV with many premium channels and options that eclipse technology that is 10 years old. From purchasing rentals in crystal-clear HD to surround sound and more, television today took a short road to some of the modern conveniences that are enjoyed.
The Future of TV?
If there is anything for certain in television, the technology will certainly continue to evolve into a higher state. A few areas for the future have been defined. Perhaps the easiest is 3D TV, which is already becoming more efficient (for viewing and price) and popular. The glasses are already gone and it’s being paired with HD, Blu-Ray, and other technologies.
Yet, that isn’t the end. Super-thin LCD panels (bezels) are appearing, visible light communication already has prototypes, and ultra-definition (compare 3840 x 2160 to 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution) is said to be on the horizon, according to PC World. Don’t be surprised if these as well as IMAX are in store for consumers.
The Evolution of Television
As one of the most fundamental entertainment devices, television has the power to entertain, inform, educate, as well as other adjectives that could define this device.
With a rich evolutionary history — perhaps similar to the computer — it is amazing to see the progression of the television. From 1926 to today, the television has gone from a device capable of producing images of living faces, to that of computer-animated worlds in HD, all from a convenient satellite subscription.
It is no surprise that television-based technology continues to evolve, even today. Other devices, such as computers (and tablets, smartphones, etc.), have even enhanced with the ability to watch TV. Get ready for another wave in television.