Television

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Television (TV) is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic ("black and white") or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission. The word is derived from mixed Latin and Greek roots, meaning "far sight": Greek tele (τῆλε), far, and Latin visio, sight (from video, vis- to see, or to view in the first person).

Commercially available since the late 1930s, the television set has become a common communications receiver in homes, businesses and institutions, particularly as a source of entertainment and news. Since the 1970s the availability of video cassettes, laserdiscs, DVDs and now Blu-ray discs, have resulted in the television set frequently being used for viewing recorded as well as broadcast material.

Although other forms such as closed-circuit television are in use, the most common usage of the medium is for broadcast television, which was modeled on the existing radio broadcasting systems developed in the 1920s, and uses high-powered radio-frequency transmitters to broadcast the television signal to individual TV receivers.

Broadcast TV is typically disseminated via radio transmissions on designated channels in the 54-890 megahertz frequency band. Signals are now often transmitted with stereo and/or surround sound in many countries. Until the 2000s broadcast TV programs were generally recorded and transmitted as an analog signal, but in recent years public and commercial broadcasters have been progressively introducing digital television broadcasting technology.

A standard television set comprises multiple internal electronic circuits, including those for receiving and decoding broadcast signals. A visual display device which lacks a tuner is properly called a monitor, rather than a television. A television system may use different technical standards such as digital television (DTV) and high-definition television (HDTV). Television systems are also used for surveillance, industrial process control, and guiding of weapons, in places where direct observation is difficult or dangerous.

Amateur television (HAM TV or ATV) is also used for experimentation, pleasure and public service events by amateur radio operators. HAM TV stations were on the air in many cities before commercial TV stations came on the air.

For more information about Television, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with television

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Cisco chief executive John Chambers

Cisco going from Internet plumber to platform

Technology / Business

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Cisco chief executive John Chambers said Tuesday that the computer switching colossus is changing from the Internet's "plumber" to a platform and provider of products for online work and leisure.


California targets TVs to lower electricity demand (AP)

Calif. requires TVs to be more energy-efficient (Update)

Technology / Energy

created Nov 18, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

(AP) -- California regulators adopted the nation's first energy-efficiency standards for televisions Wednesday in hopes of reducing electricity use at a time when millions of American households are switching ...


Television control for the remote

Technology / Telecom

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- A cheap way to deliver interactive communications to remote communities has been successfully tested in Brazil and Italy.


Sezmi offers a new kind of TV service

Technology / Telecom

created Nov 17, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Sezmi, a Silicon Valley startup that's pioneering a new type of TV service, is opening up a public test of its system Monday in California.


A man uses a laptop computer at a wireless cafe

US residents gorging on data bytes: study

Technology / Internet

created Dec 09, 2009 | popularity 2 / 5 (1) | comments 0

If the data devoured in the United States last year were converted to text there would be enough books to bury the country under a pile seven feet (two meters) deep, according to a study released Wednesday.


Broadcast pioneer NBC prepares for cable takeover (AP)

Broadcast pioneer NBC prepares for cable takeover

Technology / Telecom

created Nov 16, 2009 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 1

(AP) -- Eight decades after pioneering the concept of broadcasting, NBC is on the verge of a startling move that illustrates broadcast television's decline.


Despite some benefit, drug ads can be harmful to your health

Medicine & Health / Health

created Nov 12, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

While the debate over prescription drug advertising persists, a new study released online in the American Journal of Public Health offers guidelines for improving drug ads in order to minimize potential harm and maximize ...


Comcast's NBC talks cap its decades-long rise (AP)

Comcast's NBC talks cap its decades-long rise

Technology / Telecom

created Nov 16, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- Ralph Roberts knew he was onto something big when people ran after his cable TV trucks in Tupelo, Miss., asking for a visit to their homes.


Suggestions for tech-happy holidays

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

The holiday season is as much a time for tech as for toys. Electronic gadgets are at the top of many wish lists and account for an ever-growing share of holiday shopping budgets. Fortunately for shoppers, tech gifts don't ...


The logo of NBC studios in Burbank, California

Comcast bid for NBC Universal could be sealed next week: source

Technology / Business

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Comcast's bid to buy a controlling stake in NBC Universal from General Electric could be sealed next week if GE reaches an agreement with Vivendi, a source close to the matter said Wednesday.


Taiwan says no to Tiger Woods-style animated news (AP)

Taiwan says no to Tiger Woods-style animated news

Technology / Business

created 9 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(AP) -- Taiwanese regulators have turned down an application for a television license from a Hong Kong company whose local affiliate conquered the Internet earlier this month with a fanciful video of golf ...