Biggest Innovations in TV Technology

TV technology is one that’s often taken for granted. For instance, did you know that HD, or high definition channels were only introduced in the UK in 2006?

The smart TV you have in your living room has undergone several iterations and improvements for the better. Here are 4 of the key breakthroughs you should know about:

CRT Gave Way to LCD

Before, TVs were big, bulky black boxes that held cathode ray tubes. It was only in the 90s that LCDs, or liquid crystal displays were introduced. Like a tidal wave, most people ditched their old CRTs for the slimmer models, and television never looked back.

Then Came Plasma TVs

Soon, manufacturers made better flat screens that were lighter, had a smaller footprint and boaster bigger pictures.

Flat screen models were divided into two- LCD or plasma, with each having its own pros and cons. LCDs were better at energy efficiency, while plasma had richer colors, so to speak. The reason why there are few plasma models is due to the fact that LCD models were cheaper and of course, the invention of LED TVs.

HD and 3D

HD, or high definition touts a sharp resolution of either 720p or 1080p and quickly ousted SD, or standard definition in all but local broadcast channels.

In 2006, HD broadcasts began. With TV aerial installation you could watch BBC One, Channel 4 and ITV in full and glorious HD!

3D viewing mostly catered to movie goers and film buffs and added to the experience.

Video on Demand

With the advent of VODs, or video on demand services viewers could finally choose what they want to watch and when to watch it. No longer are they tied to watching commercials or programs they didn’t want- a menu allows them to pick a TV series and start enjoying the content at their own convenience.