History of Television - Essay Example

Television 1. Introduction Modern era has shown great progress in developing new technologies for the people. These technologies if viewed from an individual’s perspective are of great use to him. Similarly once such technology was designed in the 19th century which is now famously known as ‘Television’. Television has been an outstanding invention to provide people with entertainment and information from all over the world. Research has shown that in the United States almost 100% of households are using this technology. This invention has been made successful by Vladimir Kosma Zworykin who is also known as the father of the television. He invented an electron scanning tube in 1923 which helped to develop a new technology named television. In 1998 the digital format 1080i was created which further helped in creating televisions of different sorts. This includes televisions with liquid crystal display and rear projections. These televisions provide a better environment to the user by providing better viewing capabilities. And as the cost in designing the televisions is decreasing more companies are entering the industry to provide the users with less expensive systems. This paper will further explain the basic structure of the television and the raw materials which are being used in making these modern technologies. 2. A breakdown of the main parts of the appliance and the main function of each. The device of television requires a television receiver which catches the signals and displays the desired picture. It uses a complex system of transmitters which can be in the form of satellites. If viewed from the 18th century then it can be said that electricity was the first major breakthrough in the developing process of television. Similarly after electricity was generated different processes were undertaken to find out such chemicals which would conduct electricity. The cathode ray tube was developed in the 1878 only but since then it took long for the people to merge this cathode ray tube into a television. The basic structure of television can be divided into four main categories. These include the exterior or the housing of the television, the audio function and the system of speakers, the display tube or the picture tube and a complex set of electronic gadgets including antennae, input output devices, computerized chips and the keys to access it. Another important part of television is the remote control which helps in changing the channels displayed on the television. Housing is the basic structure of the television. It can be stated that the structure of housing of a television is derived from the mathematical figure of square. This structure consists of all the basic requirements which are needed for the television to work properly. It is designed in such a way that it can properly adjust all the components which a television needs. This structure in the television is mostly made of plastic. Secondly the television consists of a picture tube. This picture tube can be said to be the heart of a television. This is because the picture tube is the tube which helps in displaying a picture on the television. Without a picture tube it is not possible for a television to work or display anything. This picture tube is mostly in the form of cathode ray tubes which help in conducting electrons so that a perfect picture can be developed on the screen. This picture tube is right behind the screen of the television. The television then consists of an audio system. This system has all the specifications to provide audio i.e. speakers. This system helps in providing the viewer with voice. With the help of speakers the audio system is able to convey audio to the viewer. The quality of speakers depends upon the company the television belongs to. Other important parts of the television are the antennas and jacks. These antennas help in transferring data to the television. For e.g. the rear jack on the television helps in receiving data. This data after being received is processed on the picture tube. And the picture tube finally displays the picture according to the data which is being received. Other jacks of output and input also help in receiving data from other resources. For e.g. if a dvd player is attached to the television the input and output jacks help in receiving data from the dvd player. Similarly one more technology with the television is of the remote control. This remote control transmits data through chips installed in it and the television. It can help the viewer to change the channels according to his desire. This remote control can also help the viewers to change the specifications of the television. It can help the viewers to change the settings installed in the television. For e.g. the brightness, sharpness picture etc. Following is a television receiver which clearly shows the role of antenna in the transferring the data to the television. 3. The choice of materials for each of the appliances Housing of a television is a significant factor in ensuring the smooth progress of it. Housings in a television are usually made of plastic by the procedure of injection molding. In this process accurate molds are made and on the other hand plastic in the form of liquid is inserted under high pressure so that these molds can be smoothly filled. The bits are discharged from these molds and cleaned afterwards. These molds are then arranged in such a way that the structure of housing is complete. These molds are designed in such a way that they leave spaces for the other modules which would be installed in the television i.e. the jacks and antennas. Plastic is an ideal source of raw material used for the housing of televisions. This is because plastic is not a good conductor of electricity and any form of current which is passing inside the television would not pose any threat to the housing. Thus it can be said that plastic is the best material which can be used in the housing of televisions. Other materials which are not good conductors of electricity are not suitable to be used in the housing of televisions. For e.g. rubbers or fibers cannot be used in the housing of the televisions. Following is a figure which shows the basic structure of a television. Another important feature used in televisions is the picture tube or commonly known as cathode ray tube (CRT). This CRT is made up of glass which is specifically shaped in a curved pattern from the front. The glass which is facing may also have a tinge of the black color either when the glass is being produced or through means of technology applied to the screen from the inside. This darker side helps in improving the picture quality of a television. While the picture tube is being manufactured molecules of the chemical of phosphor are allowed to inhabit on the plate and this covering is then superimposed by a layer of aluminum. This layer of aluminum helps in the proper transfer of electrons through the picture tube. On the other hand the element of aluminum also serves as a mirror between the screen and the tube thus not letting the light get back to the tube. The use of glass and aluminum in the picture tube can be justified on the grounds that glass is an insulator and aluminum is a good conductor of electricity. The glass does not let go any electron move here and there while aluminum allows electrons to move through it and on the other hand it also protects the picture tube by stopping the light from coming. The glass provided for the televisions is now only supplied by little manufacturers. However in the recent years plasma televisions have been developed which use a better form of picture tube. This plasma television works in an environment in which electrodes are used. These electrodes stimulate the layers of magnesium oxide which inturn releases some rays which help in activating the phosphor chemical in the television. Similarly a shadow mask is used with quite a lot of holes in it at the back of the phosphor screen. These holes are made in such a pattern that the colors given out by the electron beams are easily aligned with them. Nowadays these shadow masks are being developed by the use of an alloy known as the Invar. This alloy helps the tube to work in conditions where the temperature is very high. The materials used in the picture tube are best suited to provide better quality of viewing to the people. The glass and the elements used are arranged in such a pattern that electrons are passed through them in an orderly way. The alloy used in the picture tube is able to work in conditions which are not suitable to other alloys. Invar is a metal which is best suited to the environment in which the television works. The electrons are excited by three metal electron guns placed in the thin end of the picture tube. These electron guns are then put inside the tube; the picture tube is then put in a vacuum so that air molecules do not divert the way of electrons. The audio system is also one of the main parts of the television as it provides the viewer with the sound of what is happening. The audio system is basically comprised of metals and plastics. Magnet is used in the designing of these speakers so that voice can easily be developed. The outer covering of the speakers is made up of plastics so that electricity is not conducted on the outside. The housing is designed in such a way that it can accommodate these speakers in its structure. And if any other metal is used in the design of the speakers it would conduct electricity to the outer parts of the television thus distorting the whole structure of the television. Similar patterns are made in the housing so that the sound patterns can be arranged in the television through the assembly line. Lastly the electronic gadgets in the television are made in such a way that they are provided with an environment which makes it convenient for them to work. As in the example of remotes it can be seen that they are installed with such silicon chips that it is easier for them to transfer data. 4. Summary & Conclusions Many developments are being witnessed in the arena of entertainment these days. And television has since the 1980s seen major improvements. New technologies are being discovered which help in making television a better medium. The quality of results given by the television is being improved vastly by different companies. This article examined the materials used in the basic structure of the television. It also witnessed the need of some elements in developing a perfect model of television. It showed that plastic and metals are important in developing television. And if further research is done on certain elements then even better ways can be figured out in improving the model of television. The new model of television which is expected by people will help to totally alter the view of televisions. It would help the viewer only to alter the videos according to their own needs. New developments are being made to further lower down the level of distortion found in the televisions. It is soon expected that the television industry would go through a massive progress. Bibliography Deutsch, Sid. Theory and Design of Television Receivers. McGraw-Hill television series. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1951. Gimesy, Oscar. The Design of Television Stations. 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Rider Publisher, 1954. Cutts, Sherry Ann Smith. Design of a Television Interframe Delta Modulation System. Austin, Tex: s.n.], 1976. Read More