The Invention of the Television

Who Invented the Television?

Electrical engineer and inventor Philo Farnsworth is widely considered to be the inventor of the television. The earliest known invention of a television-like device was by Scottish engineer and inventor John Logie Baird, but his device was not publicly demonstrated until a decade after Farnsworth's. Farnsworth was inspired to create the television when he was only 11 years old when he saw a demonstration of a spinning wheel with a mirror behind it that produced an image on a screen when the light reflected off the mirror was interrupted by someone's hand. Baird, on the other hand, is credited with inventing the first fully functioning television system.

The Discovery of Electromagnetic Waves

The discovery of electromagnetic waves has been said to have inspired many inventions, including the television. German physicist Heinrich Hertz discovered these waves when he was attempting to prove that electricity could be transmitted, rather than it being a fluid or gas. He was conducting experiments with a device called an oscillator that was able to generate and transmit electromagnetic waves, which were later proven to be equivalent to light and heat energy. Electromagnetic waves can travel through space, air, and water and can go around corners or through walls. They can also travel through fiber optics, which is a communication method that uses light to transmit information from one place to another. These waves are what allow us to communicate via the telephone, radio, and television.

The Birth of Radio Broadcasting

The birth of radio broadcasting took place in the 1920s when the first radio stations were set up and the first radio programs were broadcasted. Radio was a major technological breakthrough, allowing people to receive and send information without the need for a wired connection. The first radio programs were primarily used as news sources since the radio itself was not capable of local news coverage. Radio was a very cost-efficient form of communication since it cost very little to set up a radio station, and it was also easy to pick up a radio signal and convert it into an understandable form of communication. Radio was not initially used for entertainment purposes. However, over time, radio programs began to focus more on entertainment rather than news. Radio programs were broadcasted live, which meant that there was a need for continuity in the show since there was no way to edit the program and make corrections if something went wrong. Radio also introduced the idea of time slots, where each show was assigned a certain time during the day when it could be broadcasted.

The Invention of Television Broadcasting

The invention of television broadcasting occurred in the 1920s when engineers began experimenting with the idea of sending moving images through the air. The first television program in the United States was broadcasted in 1928. This program was only broadcasted to a few people who were testing the technology and it was not intended for public viewing. The first public broadcast of television did not occur until 1939, and it was black and white. The televisions of the time were very low resolution and the image quality was very poor. Because of this, television was mainly used for entertainment purposes rather than for business or personal communication. However, the invention of color TV in the 1940s and the invention of the computer in the 1950s allowed for the development of better technology in televisions, which allowed them to become better for communication purposes.

Where is TV Broadcasting Heading?

As we move further into the 21st century, we are seeing a shift in how we communicate. While the telephone and the radio were the primary forms of communication in the 20th century, many people are now turning towards more modern forms of communication, such as text messaging and social media. While these modern forms of communication are extremely popular and may even be more convenient than previous forms of communication, they do not offer the same level of privacy that the telephone or radio offered. In terms of television, we are seeing a shift towards more interactive TV viewing. This means that people will be able to do things like browse the internet, order products, or even play games on their televisions.

Conclusion

Throughout the centuries, there have been many major leaps in technology that have shaped the way we communicate and grow as a society. The invention of the radio, television and the internet have all contributed to this growth in different ways. Radio was the first means of long-distance communication that people had, TV brought the world into your living room and the internet allowed people to communicate instantly regardless of where they lived. These inventions are not only useful for communication purposes; they have also played an important role in shaping the way we consume information, engage with each other and grow as a society.