Television will turn 86 years old on September 7, 2013, and it has never looked better.
Television
will
turn
86
years
old
on
September
7
,
2013
,
and
it
has
never
looked
better
.
In its youth, television was a piece of furniture with a tiny, round screen showing unclear pictures of lowbudget programs.
In
its
youth
,
television
was
a
piece
of
furniture
with
a
tiny
,
round
screen
showing
unclear
pictures
of
lowbudget
programs
.
In spite of its shortcomings, it became well-received.
In
spite
of
its
shortcomings
,
it
became
well-received
.
Between 1950 and 1963, the number of American families with a television jumped from 9% to 92% of the population.
Between
1950
and
1963
,
the
number
of
American
families
with
a
television
jumped
from
9
%
to
92
%
of
the
population
.
As the audience got larger, the technology got better.
As
the
audience
got
larger
,
the
technology
got
better
.
Television sets became more reliable through the 1960s.
Television
sets
became
more
reliable
through
the
1960s
.
Both of the reception and the picture improved.
Both
of
the
reception
and
the
picture
improved
.
The major networks started broadcasting programs in color.
The
major
networks
started
broadcasting
programs
in
color
.
Even greater improvements were coming according to Sanford Brown, who wrote an article forthe Postin 1967.
Even
greater
improvements
were
coming
according
to
Sanford
Brown
,
who
wrote
an
article
forthe
Postin
1967
.
Surprisingly, just about every prediction he made in the article became a reality.
Surprisingly
,
just
about
every
prediction
he
made
in
the
article
became
a
reality
.
For example: All sets in the notdistant future will be color instruments.
For
example
:
All
sets
in
the
notdistant
future
will
be
color
instruments
.
He also predicted that TV sets would become smaller, simpler, more reliable and less expensive and may forever put the TV repairman out of work.
He
also
predicted
that
TV
sets
would
become
smaller
,
simpler
,
more
reliable
and
less
expensive
and
may
forever
put
the
TV
repairman
out
of
work
.
Smaller sets do not, of course, mean smaller screens.
Smaller
sets
do
not
,
of
course
,
mean
smaller
screens
.
TV engineers expect screens to get much bigger.
TV
engineers
expect
screens
to
get
much
bigger
.
However, today's 3D TV is even farther away, if it's coming at all.
However
,
today
's
3D
TV
is
even
farther
away
,
if
it
's
coming
at
all
.
There is some doubt whether the public would be eager to pay for it, in view of people's cold reception given to 3D movies.
There
is
some
doubt
whether
the
public
would
be
eager
to
pay
for
it
,
in
view
of
people
's
cold
reception
given
to
3D
movies
.
But the technology with the greatest potential, according to Brown, was cable television, which was still in its early stages then.
But
the
technology
with
the
greatest
potential
,
according
to
Brown
,
was
cable
television
,
which
was
still
in
its
early
stages
then
.
As he predicted, the future of cable television was highly interactive.
As
he
predicted
,
the
future
of
cable
television
was
highly
interactive
.
It wasn't cable television that gave Americans their electronic connection to the world, however.
It
was
n't
cable
television
that
gave
Americans
their
electronic
connection
to
the
world
,
however
.
It was the Internet.
It
was
the
Internet
.
He even foresaw the future office: using picture phones, bigscreen televisions for conferences, and computers providing information, at the touch of a button.
He
even
foresaw
the
future
office
:
using
picture
phones
,
bigscreen
televisions
for
conferences
,
and
computers
providing
information
,
at
the
touch
of
a
button
.
Brown ever said, "The future of television is no longer a question of what we can invent.
Brown
ever
said
,
``
The
future
of
television
is
no
longer
a
question
of
what
we
can
invent
.
It's a question of what we want."
It
's
a
question
of
what
we
want
.
''
Television will turn 86 years old on September 7, 2013, and it has never looked better. In its youth, television was a piece of furniture with a tiny, round screen showing unclear pictures of lowbudget programs. In spite of its shortcomings, it became well-received. Between 1950 and 1963, the number of American families with a television jumped from 9% to 92% of the population.  As the audience got larger, the technology got better. Television sets became more reliable through the 1960s. Both of the reception and the picture improved. The major networks started broadcasting programs in color.  Even greater improvements were coming according to Sanford Brown, who wrote an article forthe Postin 1967. Surprisingly, just about every prediction he made in the article became a reality. For example: All sets in the notdistant future will be color instruments. He also predicted that TV sets would become smaller, simpler, more reliable and less expensive and may forever put the TV repairman out of work. Smaller sets do not, of course, mean smaller screens. TV engineers expect screens to get much bigger. However, today's 3D TV is even farther away, if it's coming at all. There is some doubt whether the public would be eager to pay for it, in view of people's cold reception given to 3D movies.  But the technology with the greatest potential, according to Brown, was cable television, which was still in its early stages then. As he predicted, the future of cable television was highly interactive. It wasn't cable television that gave Americans their electronic connection to the world, however. It was the Internet. He even foresaw the future office: using picture phones, bigscreen televisions for conferences, and computers providing information, at the touch of a button.  Brown ever said, "The future of television is no longer a question of what we can invent. It's a question of what we want."