Who created the box that changed the world
The invention of television, much like cinema, was the result of contributions from multiple inventors and innovators over several decades. However, the most significant figure associated with the invention of television is Philo Farnsworth, an American inventor.
Philo Farnsworth was born in 1906 in Beaver, Utah, USA. As a young boy, he showed a keen interest in science and electronics. In 1921, at the age of 14, he drew a concept for an electronic television system, inspired by the idea of transmitting moving images using electrons.
In 1927, at the age of 21, Farnsworth successfully demonstrated the first fully electronic television system, which he called an "image dissector." His system used a combination of an electron gun, a cathode-ray tube, and a scanning mechanism to convert images into electronic signals that could be transmitted over the airwaves.
On September 7, 1927, Philo Farnsworth transmitted the first image via his electronic television system. The image transmitted was a simple straight line, but this event marked a significant breakthrough in the history of television.
Farnsworth continued to work on improving his television system and filed for a patent for his invention in 1927. He was granted the patent in 1930 (US Patent No. 1,773,980), securing his place as the inventor of electronic television.
While Farnsworth is often credited with the invention of television, it's important to note that there were other inventors and pioneers who made significant contributions to the development of television technology, including Vladimir Zworykin, John Logie Baird, and Charles Francis Jenkins, among others.
Television technology continued to advance over the years, leading to the widespread adoption of television sets in households around the world and revolutionizing the way people access information and entertainment.
Television in Europe
The first television broadcasts in Europe occurred during the 1930s. The development of television technology was happening simultaneously in various European countries, and there were several pioneers who made significant contributions to the early television industry. Here are some notable milestones in the first TV broadcasts in different European countries:
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United Kingdom: John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor, is often credited with conducting some of the earliest television broadcasts. He demonstrated his mechanical television system, based on a series of spinning Nipkow disks, and made the first known live television broadcast in January 1926. The BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation, also played a crucial role in the early development of television broadcasting in the UK. Regular high-definition television broadcasts by the BBC began in November 1936.
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Germany: The world's first regular high-definition television service began in Germany in 1935. The service was operated by the "Reichssender Berlin" station and was based on the electronic television technology developed by the German engineer Manfred von Ardenne.
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France: French television history can be traced back to the work of René Barthélemy, who transmitted the first experimental television signals in France in 1931. However, it wasn't until 1935 when the first regular television broadcasts were initiated by Radiodiffusion Française, featuring low-definition images.
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Soviet Union: The Soviet Union also made strides in early television broadcasting. In 1931, a television station began operating in Moscow, showcasing experimental broadcasts.
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Italy: The first television broadcasts in Italy were experimental transmissions that began in 1930. The regular service started later, in 1939, but was suspended during World War II.
Early television broadcasts were limited in terms of both broadcasting hours and the number of households with television sets. Television technology rapidly advanced in the following decades, and by the 1950s, television had become a more widespread form of entertainment and information across Europe.
