A peek on the history of the television
Are you feeling down or restless? Do you want to sleep yet it’s too early to go to bed? Why not turn on your TV and scan the channels for something fun and nice to watch on? The television has always been a pastime for many, as this has been a source of knowledge, fun, and entertainment. But do you know how and when this has come about? Have you ever wondered about the history of the television?
Well, the history of the television dates back a century ago, but it wasn’t that high-end yet as it is now. The television has definitely evolved from a small boob tube to the high-tech gadget it is today. It was first conceptualized and developed in the 19th century, several people contributed to its initial success. There were George Carey with his “selenium camera” drawings, Paiva Figuier and Senlecq, who suggested the “telectroscopes”, Eugen Goldstein who introduced the cathode rays, Ferdinand Braun who invented the cathode ray tube, Sheldon Bidwell who experimented on telephotography, Philo Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin who developed the image dissector and iconoscope, and Paul Nipkow who patented on the electric telescope. These scientists, inventors, and engineers, did so much for the initial development of TV. Thus, it has gained recognition in the US and in some European countries.
More ideas and concepts have been discussed and actualized in the following years. Based on Nipkow’s rotating disks came the mechanical television, and based on the cathode ray tube came the electronic television. Through these, Jenkins and Baird started television programming in the US and England, respectively. It gradually increased television’s popularity as it started to air and broadcast. From cathode ray tube TVs, come the black-and-white TV, the color TV, and other TV systems.
People have been enjoying TV for the past half a century; it’s been part of almost every home’s lifestyle and entertainment. However, in the early part of the century, while scientists continue to progress and enhance this invention, people were neither keen on TV nor aware of it, and for those who heard of it were untouched by its influence.
Unlike other inventions, the history of the television shows that it didn’t only come about because of the magic of one man, or because of the creativity of one scientist, rather it has evolved and has actually continued to evolve until now because of the visions of many people. This only proves that the history of the television is still in the making and ongoing.