Television: A Brief History

While it may seem an unbelievable concept to the modern day individual, there was one a time before the television existed. One cannot help but wonder what people did with their spare time, how information and news was spread and how a basic enjoyment could be found. Well, maybe everyone just talked to each other, though that can’t have been as interesting as the latest sci-fi drama or an episode of one’s favourite soap!

The first demonstration of televised images was in 1926. The product of many years work, the first images on a television are unimpressive to us now, but of the time they were revolutionary. Noting when television was officially invented is difficult, as various inventors sought throughout the early 20th century to achieve this feat – and even then, the definition of ‘television’ can be sketchy.

The first television as something we would recognise as a television today was invented by John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor. Baird, and his company Baird Television Development Company, began broadcasting images from ever increasing distances in the mid 1920s. Baird is credited with being the inventor of television, though he utilised earlier technologies explored as far back at the late 19th century.

Television has continued to develop since Baird’s time. Originally broadcast in black and white, the first colour televisions became available in the 1960s. By the 1990s, television was being broadcast using digital – rather than conventional analogue – technologies. The late 2000s saw the advent of high definition television, as well as systems such as TiVo which allow for live pause and broadcast of television. The future will doubtless include further technological ventures, as this medium continues to grow and grow.

What Is High Definition Television?

In a world where technology changes seemingly by the second, keeping apace with the changing times can be an uphill battle. Yet there is one televisual revolution that one cannot afford to not keep up with, and that is high definition television.

Better known as HD TV (or sometimes simply HDTV, without the space), high definition television is the key revolutionary word in TV broadcast. As the name somewhat implies, HD is the same television programmes you’re used to watching, but broadcast in higher definition. This means that the picture quality is four (or sometimes five) times clearer than normal standard definition, and cinema style ’surround sound’ is used for a total viewing experience. If you like your television and watch it a lot, HD is the future.

To receive HD broadcast properly, you need two things. The first is an HD ready or compatible TV; manufacturers and electrical stores will be able to tell you which sets work with high definition programming. The television may be more expensive than standard definition sets, but with HD television a growing medium that has become a must for regular television viewers, try and see it as an investment.

Secondly, you will need a cable, dish or satellite subscription. Only some channels broadcast in HD TV, and to use the HD facilities you will need to be tuned to one of these channels. You can still watch standard definition broadcasts on your high definition television, only they will not be shown in high definition. To get the full HD effect, you need the programme to be being broadcast in HD, and have a television that can receive HD pictures. With these two magic ingredients, the wonders of HD await you.

Should I Worry About Mercury in My LCD Television?

With new technology comes new risks, or so we are led to believe. With the invention of LCD televisions, banishing the more conventional TV to the scrap yard, it was only a matter of time before someone, somewhere took the opportunity to denounce the technology. LCD screens, with their thin panels and superb picture quality, were a sitting target for Luddites determined to stick to the old ways.

It did not take long for a quibble with LCD screens to be found, namely the element Mercury. It is true that LCD screens do use Mercury as part of their work process, and detractors naturally jumped on this and used it as a stick to beat LCD television manufacturers with. As things do, this knowledge and concern over Mercury spread into the public domain, and while sales of LCD screens has not been affected, there is some residual worry. Mercury, after all, can be poisonous, and trigger all manner of health ill effects.

If you are concerned about the Mercury used within your LCD television, don’t worry. Firstly, the amount of Mercury used is so small it is barely worth worrying about. While it is an essential part of the technology used to produce a picture on an LCD screen, it is not something to worry about due to its size. For Mercury poisoning to occur, a person must be exposed to extremely large quantities for a long period of time, and that isn’t possible with an LCD screen. Secondly, the Mercury is hidden away from human contact in the workings of the television, so no one is ever exposed to it anyway. Fret not, and enjoy your LCD screen.