In this blog post, we’ll take a detailed look at the TV’s etymology, history, how it works, the different types, and its impact on our lives.
What Is TV?
Whether it’s the weekend drama my mother enjoys, the 9 o’clock news my father watches, or the music program my younger sibling loves, all of these are delivered to us through a small rectangular screen. Most households have a TV, and if you’re unfamiliar with the various programs aired on it, you may often find yourself left out of conversations with those around you. Many industries and professions have emerged—and disappeared—because of TV. When you flip through the channels, countless worlds unfold before you. We might see the heart of Seoul, the island of Dokdo, the summit of Mount Everest, the depths of the ocean, or even distant galaxies in the universe. Any place humans can go can be comfortably experienced from the comfort of our homes through that small screen.
Regarding television, American columnist Art Buchwald made the following remark not in 1925, but in the 1970s: “Television has a real problem. They have no page two.” This means, “Television has one serious problem: it lacks a second page.” This implies that while readers can actively choose which parts of a book to read, television forces viewers to passively accept whatever is shown on the screen. TV has become widely adopted by the public, and people increasingly spend hours sitting in front of it. This has led to the view that TV is a “idiot box.” So, what exactly is a TV? Let’s take a closer look at what TV is.
TV is an abbreviation for “television,” a word derived from the Greek “tele” (far) and the Latin “vision” (to see). In other words, it refers to a device that uses electrical signals to display images from a distance. To create a TV, several technologies are required: the technology to capture images, the technology to convert those images into electrical signals, the technology to transmit those signals over long distances, and the technology to convert the transmitted signals back into images. It also requires the technology to integrate all these functions into a single device. It took a long time and a great deal of research and development to create the TV as we know it today.
How did TV evolve?
It is difficult to pinpoint a single person as the inventor of the TV. In 1884, Paul Nipkow of Germany invented the Nipkow disk, which laid the foundation for the principle of converting images into electrical signals. Later, Karl Ferdinand Braun of Germany developed cathode-ray tube technology. In 1925, John Logie Baird of the United Kingdom unveiled a mechanical television and is commonly recognized as the inventor of the television. However, it is more accurate to view the development of television as the cumulative result of the achievements of numerous researchers. Subsequently, in 1927, Philo Farnsworth of the United States developed the first electronic television, and later, the electronic television developed by EMI was used for BBC broadcasts, replacing mechanical television. Through this process, modern television as we know it today became established.
So, what principle allows a TV to display images within a rectangular screen? First, the human eye perceives a sequence of more than 24 frames per second as a single, natural motion. TV sets utilize this afterimage effect to rapidly display a sequence of frames. Additionally, they express a wide range of colors by mixing the three primary colors of light—RGB (red, green, blue)—in appropriate proportions.
In the case of cathode-ray tube (CRT) TVs, an electron beam generated by an electron gun was controlled by deflection coils to strike red, green, and blue phosphors precisely, and the resulting light was used to create the image.
TVs receive signals from broadcast stations to display video. In the past, broadcast signals were primarily transmitted using very high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands, and households received these signals via antennas. With the transition to digital broadcasting, terrestrial analog broadcasting in South Korea ended in 2012, and digital broadcasting is now the standard. Additionally, to address the increase in high-rise buildings and changes in the radio wave environment, CATV (Community Antenna Television), a shared antenna system, became widespread, and various broadcasting methods, such as satellite and cable TV, have also developed.
What are the types and characteristics of TVs?
There are various types of TVs. First, CRT (cathode-ray tube) TVs offered sharp picture quality and were affordable, but they were thick, heavy, and took up a lot of space. Projection TVs could produce large screens, but their brightness and picture quality were relatively poor, and image quality varied depending on the viewing angle. AMOLED TVs boast ultra-thin profiles, excellent picture quality, and low power consumption. 3D TVs provided stereoscopic images but were limited by the need for special glasses. LCD TVs were thin, lightweight, relatively energy-efficient, and offered high resolution. PDP TVs produced natural and smooth colors but had relatively high power consumption.
Currently, LCD and OLED technologies dominate the TV market, while production of CRT and PDP TVs has largely ceased.
How do TVs affect us?
So far, we’ve examined the etymology, history, operating principles, types, and characteristics of TVs. Finally, let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages that TV has on our lives.
First, let’s look at the advantages. First, TV broadens our social perspective. News and current affairs programs provide a variety of information accompanied by immersive footage, helping us understand society. Second, it enhances our cultural literacy. Through various educational programs and documentaries, we can easily access high-quality information. Third, it helps relieve stress. A variety of entertainment shows and dramas provide viewers with enjoyment and relaxation. Fourth, it is highly efficient at conveying information. Information can be rapidly delivered to countless people through a single medium, and reactions to social issues can be quickly gauged.
On the other hand, there are also disadvantages. First, it can reduce family conversations and weaken communication within the household. If family members each focus solely on watching TV, conversation naturally tends to diminish. Second, it can affect imagination and creativity. For example, when reading “Harry Potter” as a novel, readers are free to imagine the characters and settings on their own, but after watching the movie, the actors’ appearances tend to come to mind first. In this way, visual media has the potential to limit the scope of a reader’s imagination. Third, there is a risk of encountering biased or distorted information. If a specific perspective is reflected in the program production process, viewers may not receive balanced information. Fourth, it can have a negative impact on children and adolescents. Indiscriminate exposure to violent or sensational scenes may lead to imitative behavior. Fifth, it can promote a culture of overconsumption. Exaggerated advertisements or those featuring celebrities can stimulate the desire to consume, leading to unnecessary spending.
