Stone Age Technology Compared to High Definition

The World Fair in Chicago that first introduced the earth shattering technology that we've now come to take for granted would probably never have foreseen the direction that society would take with regard to the television. Its place in society has remained a staple in most homes around the world, providing news coverage, entertainment, learning opportunities and much more. Yet these first TV sets, when viewed in retrospect, provide a glimpse of the past that seems so distant now that we have affordable and stunning new technology such as high definition broadcasts.

A moment of reflection or a few minutes spent flipping through an old encyclopedia is all it takes to realize that we have come what might seem like light years forward compared to the first televisions that we used to depend on. Fuzzy and out of focus, these first transmissions seemed like a miracle at the time. Little did we know that our 21st experience as it pertains to TV glaring, would become a visceral experience on par with reality? Engaging with the tube allows us to escape from reality in the form of high-energy films and sports, or it allows us to get in touch with the current events that shape our world. There are limitless opportunities that only continue to shape our society thanks to this pivotal invention.

Now that we've come to take this technology for granted in our homes, we find ourselves seeking something that lives up to the rapidly advancing computers and smart phones of the day. Our dependence on the tube has always been important, and we often find ourselves fearing its loss if computers become too advanced for even high definition to keep up. Hence, many developers and engineers are constantly inventing new ways for viewers to engage with their TVs in ways that fit their particular lifestyles.

In addition to sharper image quality and more vibrant colors, the growth of satellite TV has altered the possibilities in significant ways as well. Our ability to engage with hundreds of special interest programming means that sitting in front of the tube never has to be a boring experience. Even if you feel as if you've exhausted the options here in your own country, within your own culture, you can easily move on to foreign language broadcasts that will broaden your perspective like you never thought possible.

When we think back to the mentality that these first fair-goers may have had, it seems to us as if we're recalling a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Now that so many people carry around cell phones with incredible capabilities, the very concept that televisions were once only available in black and white is an outrageous concept. Today, tuning into HD broadcasts from the comfort of your own living room is something of the norm. With more options to choose from and a visual experience that rivals reality itself, it's hard to imagine what someone growing up at the beginning of the 1900s might think if they saw how far we've come.