5 Key Stages in the Evolution of TV throughout History
Back when the first prototype model of television was being constructed by John Logie Baird, little did he know the true impact of what he had created for the world to enjoy. From those humble
beginnings, the television started out as an additional service to accompany radio as a means of communication. Television as we know it has been reinvented from a visual form of radio, to a
multinational, multilingual phenomenon that has seen innovation in technology to bring us what we enjoy today.
Some of the first televisions on the market were simple units that in today’s terms offered appalling quality images and sound. These devices utilised the CRT or Cathode
Ray Tube method of delivering a picture. Even whilst television sets were being manufactured, the system of standards that implemented broadcast and reception of the images was still not
standardised.
1. Improvements in Image Quality
Early on, manufacturers saw the need to increase picture quality for those viewing, and improvements in Baird’s technology allowed the paltry 30 line system to be improved further to the standard
240 line system and later to 405 lines. This drastic improvement in image quality meant television was starting to garner the interest of the general public to buy into a home television system. The
405 line standard of CRT television was kept from 1943 all the way up until 1953 when colour television was introduced to the United States, and 625 line colour television was introduced to the
United Kingdom. A missed opportunity was made after the Second World War when Baird pleaded with a UK broadcasting committee to introduce his new invention of 1000 line television that would have
been on par with the high-definition television of today. Sadly, the implementation was turned down due to post-war reconstruction costs.
2. The Introduction of Colour Television
During the late 60s and 70s more companies got involved in manufacturing television panels, and with the introduction of larger sets, style was making headway in
interior design and home décor. Many television sets offered a variety of colours and styles to choose from, such as wooden panels, globe-shaped sets as well as employing funky legs and stands.
Television became the centre of focus for many households and with new and innovative ways to watch TV came new ways to install the sets. Many people chose television stands at ground level to watch,
while others installed TV wall mounts on smaller sets in their bedrooms or offices. Larger televisions were deemed too bulky to be wall mounted, until further advancements in technology meant this
was now possible.
3. The Introduction of Flat Screen Televisions
It was only in the late 1990s that large flat screens were introduced with flat CRT TVs becoming more popular. Sony’s Trinitron range was a stepping stone and
advancement in technology which combined a newly incorporated RGB gun system into a single unit. These models were later superseded by Sony’s WEGA range of flat screen CRT televisions, making Sony
the leader in this technology.
4. The Move to Flat Panels
It was only a few years later that flat panel Plasma screen televisions were introduced. Before this time, consumers could purchase rear-projection televisions to
achieve larger screen sizes. Many of these RPTVs has focusing issues and tended to be extremely expensive to purchase. DLPTVs which are digital light panel TVs use a digital rear projection method to
produce extremely large images with a price point of a much smaller television set. LCD television and later LED TV sets where introduce to give a much more stable image across all of the screen and
made HDTV more popular than ever. These LCD and LED TVs weren’t extremely expensive, offered the best picture quality to date and could be put anywhere in the home thanks to its wall mount
installation ability.
5. Digital Television and 3D Images
3D high definition television is the latest example of the progress that has been made in recent years for consumers to enjoy at home. The latest models offer large
panels that are built to be enjoyed for the whole family with the addition of a pair of 3D glasses. The latest models available also offer 4KTV compatibility, which will offer consumers a huge boost
in picture quality, definition and lifelike images that will offer you an engrossing image to enjoy your favourite movies and sporting events on for years to come.