In this age of technology, most homes will have at least one television that sits in the room and is often taken for granted. But in reality, today’s televisions are a testament to many years of development and feats of engineering that started way back in the 1800s.
Black and White Era
Initially, television sets in homes were something of a rarity. They started life with a black and white picture that showed only one channel, which was broadcast for a limited number of hours each day. They had reasonably small screens that were set in a large cumbersome cabinet and took time to warm up before the picture came on.
Often there would only be one family per street or area that was wealthy enough to own a television and they would invite their neighbors around to enjoy it with them on special occasions. Gradually, as the costs associated with the manufacture of televisions reduced, more homes were able to afford them. As their popularity increased, more programs were broadcast offering a little more entertainment for everyone.
Colored Era
Color televisions came next and were again initially more often found in the homes of the wealthy and thought of as something of a status symbol.
Eventually, though the cost of them was reduced enough for everyone else to afford them.
High Tech Era
We have come a long way from the days of the family listening to the news or a specific program on the radio. Nowadays there is a wide variety of televisions that you can purchase. You can have flat screen, ultra high definition, and even 3D televisions that bring the picture right into your room or you into the picture.
They may sit on a cabinet in the corner or be wall mounted and the thickness of them can be like of a picture.
The Evolution of TV
But it is only when you stop and think about what the evolution of television has achieved that you realize that it is one of the greatest discoveries. It has opened up the world for everyone and people gather together to watch sports matches, special events in other countries, and even their favorite television programs. This has given us all an insight into the lives that people live in countries different from our own that we could never have imagined before. It has enabled us to list places we want to visit that we would have had no idea about even 60 years ago.
With the advent of video, DVD players, and then smart TVs, we are now able to watch movies in our own homes whenever we want to, we can record our favorite programs or a special event that we can watch over and over again. Games consoles are hooked up to HD televisions and provide fun and laughter for all the family.
Much is said about the fact that we spend far too much time watching television and this may be true. But at the end of the day, think how narrow our lives would be without TVs and what an amazing discovery and feat of engineering and technology television is.
