Evolution of Television 1920-2020 (updated)
2,309,153
Published 2021-06-26
In 100 years, the TV has taken many shapes and sizes. Here's the history of the television, from the 1920s to today.
1920s
The 1920s gave us the mechanical television. The first model had a small display on the right, and a huge cabinet. These first TVs were very simple, in comparison to our technology today.
They implemented peculiar shapes. Such as the octagon television.
Although the technology was impressive, the video quality was not. Facial features were not recognizable unless makeup was worn in a specific way.
1930s
In the 1930s we saw more refined televisions. With better designs and resolution.
This decade saw a giant leap in video quality. From 100 scan lines at the start of the decade to 405.
1940s
The 1940s brought us even higher resolutions. Including, the NTSC standard, of 480 lines of resolution and better audio.
In the 1940s it was difficult to produce CRT screens larger than 12 inches. So big screen TVs implemented projection techniques.
1950s
The 1950s brought us the short-lived porthole televisions. But most importantly, it brought us the NTSC color standard. But, not many color televisions were sold until the following decade.
1960s
The sales of color TVs boomed in the 60s. They were now more affordable and the colors were more vivid.
The high-end TV sets also included a new invention. The remote control.
1970s
The 1970s brought TV designs for every taste and need. There was the upgradeable television with easily accessible circuit boards. The futuristic televisions. Which implemented curvy design patterns. The colorful TVs that looked more like toys. And the portable combos. Which normally included radios and cassette decks.
1980s
The 1980s was the end of the TV as furniture era. These were replaced with color projection TVs with larger screens and minimalist cabinets. The Space Command was one of those color projection TVs.
The 1980s gave way to the first LCD TVs. They were tiny and pixelated, but it was a huge step forward. Portable CRT TVs were a lot more affordable and included additional functions.
1990s
This decade was all about Sony's Trinitron technology. As Sony's patent had run out, all competitors were free to use the technology.
TV/VCR combos became really popular in the 1990s. They included FM radio and VCR.
In the 1990s, Casio continued to improve their portable LCD TVs.
A preview of one of the biggest tech of the following decade was introduced at the end of the 1990s. The flat HDTV. Priced around $7,000.
2000s
Throughout the 2000s CRT TVs were still very popular. As they were inexpensive and could access HD channels using a converter box.
During this decade, LCD tech was finally able to compete with Plasma. Giving us LCD HDTVs. Then LED TVs arrived. Which were superior to both.
A few brands experimented with ambience lighting. To make the TVs more immersive.
Through the decade, HDTVs became pretty smart. They were able to display content from your computer. As well as connect to different services on the internet.
2010s
We started the 2010s with the best combination of tech money can buy. 4K, LED, And 3D. Which all had just been introduced.
Curved screens became the premium feature for a few years. It was meant to reduce glare and improve immersion. By taking advantage of our peripheral vision. This works well for computer monitors. But it is barely noticeable on TVs.
Something truly impressive was the introduction of wallpaper TVs. These are almost as thin as a credit card.
The latest feature is ambient mode. Which lets you match your TV to your decor. It allows you to display your TV as art, or to match your wallpaper.
2020s
2020 promises many new technologies. Such as the rollable TV. It is completely hidden when it's off and when it's on, it grows to the size of the content or application. This is great for calendar and music apps. And avoids the black bars in extra-wide movies.
The transparent glass TV is another discreet TV technology. But it will likely be used more for decoration and art, than for entertainment.
While the double sided TV will be great for gaming and for commercial applications.
Tech is changing really fast, and so are our TVs. What do you think is next, for the evolution of television?
All Comments (21)
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You skipped over the late 90’s and and early 2000’s television sets that had really large screens and a flat appearance on the front. But the back part stick out about 3 feet and weighed as much as a car! lol. Such a joy trying to move those.
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It’s quite funny how in the 1920s people would watch TV on a small screen, but about 100 years later we’re doing that again on our phones.
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That 1940’s projection TV looks super impressive for the time
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Ahhh the early 2000s I grew up with the box TVs and when you touch the screen sometimes you get a shock XD
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It's amazing to see how products have evolved over time.
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It's been a hundred years that television exists!
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I was present for much of television's development. I grew up in the 50's, so many of the televisions I encountered were manufactured in the 40's...and yes, there were still a few round screens among family and friends. We went from antennas to towers with roters to cable, from black & white to colour, from the deep sound of giant speakers to the tinny sound of plastic portables to stereo output (and indeed entire stereos or hi-fi's built in, including turntables). I often wish my father could have lived to watch a hockey game on a 60" 4K TV. He was always so "Popular Mechanic" tech-interested, he would have been blown away. Unfortunately, he didn't live to ever see a game in colour. I do miss television as fine-furniture though. Those crafted wooden cabinets were so much a part of my childhood...although, like everything, they became cheap veneer or plastic.
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I remember as a little boy, the day we got our first ever TV. It was black and white, and there were not that many shows on. I loved the cartoons shown. One day my dad took us to visit a wealthy friend of his, and I saw a colour TV. It was a lot bigger than ours. I was stunned! What this video didn't mention was the tuning of channels back in the 90s and before. We had antennaes sticking out the TV, or external ones with cables. The inbuilt antenna had to be adjusted to a certain way to watch each channel (if memory serves me right). So every time you changed channels, you had to readjust the antenna if the new channel was not in some frequency range to the one you had just watched. When we got satellite TV subscription, there was an aerial that had to be put up on the roof. It had a stand and had to face a certain direction in order to watch. It had much clearer audio and video, but when it rained heavily...signal was lost and we could not watch TV. The next evolution was the satellite dish we had installed by professionals. These were nailed to the wall, properly calibrated and faced the right direction and performed much better during the rain. These days my TV has no cables going to it except the power outlet. WiFi connects it to the internet, my laptop and phone for content. Bluetooth for music. And I carried into my home by myself. TVs back in the 80s and 90s of this screen size would require 2 bodybuilders to get it to my house.
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The double sided tv would be awesome for those homes with a large window area between the kitchen and living room!
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I'm fascinated with the evolution of Technology. Please do Radio, Aircraft, Computer, Phones, etc
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My father taught himself how to repair TV’s and radios in 1948 after a one week night course! Has his own business in Pittsburg, CA. He did car radios, tv’s etc. mostly this meant tubes and picture tubes which regularly failed but speakers regularly blew out. He sold a few RCA TV’s but could not sell a color TV in the late 50’s, only a few shows in color, Disney, Bonanza and sports, so we took it home and I amazed my friends! Sad to say when solid state came in and tubes were no more during the 70’s it killed the repair business. He was a great guy who survived an orphanage, depression, CCC, WW2…made ‘em tough then
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1920 you watched the TV. 2020 the TV watches you.
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Maximum respect to those who invented all those models
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In the late 1950s, when I was very little, we had a Zenith remote control. Unlike the one shown here, however, I remember ours as having just two buttons instead of four. I think one was on / off, and the other was to change channels. I had no idea that "Mute" buttons existed that long ago.
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Guys, he remembered his password!! O:
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My family was always behind the times when it came to TVs, I was using a late 90s TV until 5 years ago, I'm currently using a 720p TV from 2016.
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Amazing how TVs evolved from octagons to 70 inch curved real life resolution screens.
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i still actively use a 42" plasma tv from 2010 as my main tv. sometimes i even use it as a monitor. it has worked perfectly for 13 years straight, and i believe it will work perfectly beyond that.
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I was born in the '90s, but I always thought that TVs just boom popped up in every home by the '60s then boom here we are, but now I see, like all things, it was and is an evolutionary process. Thank you
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The Rollable TV seems to be the closet to what I want for a TV that's physically capable to change it's resolution in order to fit the resution of the content and avoid black bars.
