| MEDIA TECHNOLOGY | |||||||||||||||||
| The Television | Early Developments | ||||||||||||||||
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Many scientists contributed to the development of the television, and not one person can be called its inventor. Television became possible in the early 1800's, when people learned how to send communication signals through the air as electromagnetic waves. This process is called 'radio communication.' The first radio opereators sent code signals through the air. By the early 1900's, operators could transmit words. Meanwhile scientists had conducted experiments involving the transmission of pictures. As early as 1884, Paul Gottlieb Nipkow of Germany had invented a scanning device that sent pictures short distances. His system worked mechanically, rather than electronically as television does. In 1922, Philo T. Farnsworth of the United States developed an electronic scanning system. In 1926, John Logie Baird, a Scottish engineer, invented a television system that used infrared rays to take pictures in the dark. Vladimir K. Zworykin, a Russian-born American scientist, invented the 'iconoscope' and the 'Kinescope' in 1923. The 'iconoscope' was the first television camera tube suitable for broadcasting. The 'kinescope' is the picture tube used in TV recievers. Zworykin demonstrated the first practical television system in 1929. | ||||||||||||||||
| The Advancements | |||||||||||||||||
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Many experimental television broadcasts took place in the late 1920?s and the 1930?s. The BBC in Britain, and CBS and NBC in the United States were the leaders in experimental television broadcasts. The BBC started the world?s first public television service in 1936, broadcasting from Alexandra Palace in London. In 1936, the Radio Corporation of America, which owned NBC, installed television receivers in 150 homes in the New York City area. NBC?s New York station began experimental television broadcasts to these homes. A cartoon of Felix the Cat was its first program. NBC established the first regular TV broadcasts in the United States in 1939. Television broadcasting resumed in Britain after WWII (1939-1945). At first, broadcasts were experimental and only a few people had TV?s. But by 1951, the Americans had extended broadcasts from coast to coast. People were fascinated by television. During the 1950?s, there was a huge growth in the use of television in the western countries. Britain had just one TV service until 1955, when the commercial Independent Television (ITV) network began operating. Australia opened its first national and commercial stations, in Sydney and Melbourne, in 1956. Irish television began in 1961. In the 1960?s, television development became more rapid, with the introduction in several countries of colour Television. The BBC began regular colour broadcasts in 1966, on BBC-2. Comedy shows and westerns were popular in the 1950?s. Quiz shows, with big money prizes, became favorites on commercial stations. Drama serials, such as Britain?s ?Coronation Street?, also attracted millions of viewers. ?Coronation Street? began in 1960 and was still attracting huge weekly audiences in the early 1990?s By the 1980?s, crime series? had replaced Westerns as the most popular dramas. Many television stations featured talk shows, quizzes, comedies and sports programs. Although popular entertainment remained the major part of television programming during the 60?s, TV planners also increasingly covered events such as political rallies, Sate funerals and Royal Weddings. Television also regularly brought viewers scenes of wars, natural disaster and famine. The Vietnam War of the 1960?s and 70?s was sometimes called ?The first war to be fought on television.? Civil rights protests also received TV coverage. Technological advancements made during the 1950?s and 60?s helped improve the technical quality of the television broadcasts. In TV?s early days, most screens measured 18-25cm diagonally. Today, 53 and 64cm screens are common, some can even get up to 130cm. In the 1970?s, manufacturers introduced ?projection television systems? which beam programs onto a screen as large as 2 metres measured diagonally. Other TV sets, small enough to fit in a pocket have screens measuring about 7.5cm. These small sets use small cathode-ray tubes to produce the television pictures. In some models, the phosphorescent screen is viewed from the inside trough a window in the tube, allowing a more compact design. Liquid-crystal screens, similar to those used in portable computers are now available, in both black & white and colour sets. Such screens give poorer pictures than those produced by cathode-ray tubes, but are more compact and require less power. Improvements in broadcasting and receiving equipment provide much clearer pictures than were available in the past. In the early days, all programs were broadcast in colour. More than 90% of households in most industrial countries have a colour set. At first, most television broadcasts were in live productions or programs made from film. The film took time to develop. Also, the equipment and techniques used produced pictures and sound of poor quality. Videotaping of programs began in the mid-1950?s and became a major production method. Videotapes can be played back immediately after taping. They produce good quality pictures and sound and allow flexibility in program scheduling. Later, scientists developed equipment and techniques that improved the quality of the filmed shows. ?Early Bird?, the first commercial communication satellite, was launched in 1965. Satellites made worldwide television broadcasts possible. Today viewers can watch such events as the Olympic Games as they happen. Television continues to be primarily a source of entertainment. But it also carries on its role of providing coverage of important events. For example, in 1973, U.S. networks cancelled many regular programs to cover the Watergate hearings ? A U.S. Senate investigation of charges of illegal campaign practices during the 1972 presidential election. In the early years of television, broadcasters generally avoided controversial themes, such as abortion, alcoholism, divorce, drug abuse, political satire, prejudice and sex. They feared themes might offend viewers. But in the late 1960?s, broadcasters found that they could deal with controversial themes without getting too many complaints. Television has come along in leaps and bounds since its start and things can only get better. So we can all look forward to a great future for the grand old TV. | |||||||||||||||||
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