The Evolution of Television Technology

The TV has been a central aspect of the home for many years now and they have changed drastically in that time period. From simplistic devices that had hard to see, staticky, pictures to the crisp HD 1080p that we enjoy in our homes.

Today, technology has evolved drastically over the past century, so much so you may not recognise what was once the standard television set! Square may be the only similarity you see.

Mechanical and Electronic Televisions

The first type of television technology was known as the mechanical television. It relied on a mechanical scanning device, a rotating disk or mirror, to scan and generate the video signal. A similar receiver was also required to display the picture. This is similar to modern televisions, except they use electronic methods, such as electronic beams, instead to create and display the picture.

This type of television was the earliest used in the 1920s and 1930s, many radio stations experimented by broadcasting television programs using these sets. However, the quality of the image was not sufficient for it to ever become particularly popular with the public.

However, the electronic television produced a better picture quality and so did see mainstream success. It was the set of choice for all of those that contributed to the rise of the BBC in the 1930s; they began regularly scheduled programs in 1936 and have only gone from strength to strength since then.

Colour Television

This was a step up from the television available on the market at the time; it meant the inclusion of the information on the colour of the picture transmitted to the TV sets, so that the full colour of the programming could be full seen. Television broadcasting across the globe updated to colour broadcasting in the 1960s and 1970s. The invention of coloured television is a pivotal moment in the history of television technology.

Early colour TV sets were either floor standing or table top sets; they were clunky and took up a lot of space in the home even though the screen itself was relatively small. It was the start of a TV in every home and the home as we know it today.

Digital Television

Digital TV became a real possibility in the 1990s with the rise of computers. It is the transmission of audio and video digitally, processed in a multiplex signal that can support more than one program in the same channel bandwidth. The transition to digital television across the domestic market began in the 2000s; a deadline was set for analogue shut down by the 2010s. Despite this, the transition was at first slow, but it soon picked up and more and more homes switched to digital televisions.

Within the current decade analogue is expected to be shut down completely worldwide as we transition into a truly digital world.

Today    

The television is commonplace in every home; it is as much a piece of furniture to adorn the living room as it is a piece of technology. The Smart TV is the newest and best version of this home staple, but with the move to 3D televisions the advancement for these devices seem never ending despite their common-place identity in the home. What will come next? Only time will tell.

Here at Cheap TVs our team are always ready and happy to help you find the set of your dreams. Over a hundred years of technological research and advancement has gone into the television, resulting in everything from 3D TVs to Smart TVs. So, contact us or call us on 0121 327 3273 and we will be happy to help!