My Cart - TVs have come a long way in recent years, and we’re sure that they still have so much further to go. In this article, we are celebrating some of television’s greatest technological advancements, including the introduction of cheap smart TVs, amazing OLED screens, 4K, and so much more!
CRT
The cathode-ray tube TV was the first properly domestic television screen. It works by firing electrode guns against a phosphorescent screen to make images. In TV and computer screens, the image is controlled by three electron beams, one for each primary colour, which can change in intensity and direction. The direction is affected by magnetic deflection, and this is what ensures that the colour from the correct electron gun ends up in the correct place on the screen.
Although CRTs have been thoroughly replaced by flat-screen TV technology in the UK, they were once an extremely influential technology that shaped the entertainment of thousands.
Plasma Screens
It is important that you never throw a plasma screen television into your general waste for a number of reasons, such as that there are plenty of materials that can be recycled in a plasma screen TV, but also because the way that a plasma screen functions requires it to have plenty of dangerous chemicals that could leak out of the TV and cause harm to you or the environment if mistreated.
One of those chemicals is phosphor, and phosphor plays a big role in creating the pixels on a plasma screen. Behind the glass screen of a plasma TV there are hundreds of pixels, and each of these pixels controls three chambers of phosphor gas. The chambers are separated into the three primary colours and lit according to the desired image that is going to be created.
LCD
An LCD TV uses two polarised, thin glass sheets, though sometimes plastic is used instead on smaller models. The front sheet is used for colouring the light and is coated with three filters (primary colours again, red, blue and green) and polymers that contain liquid crystals. The back panel is fitted with electrodes, shutters and capacitors.
The LCD works by running a current through the liquid crystals and encouraging them to block or release light as needed. One of the benefits of LCD TV technology is that it can be scaled to suit a range of resolutions, from 480p to 8K.
OLED
A similar technology to LCD, except the panels are made from organic materials that emit their own light when a current is applied. This means that our cheap OLED TVs don’t require a backlight, which is important because televisions can be slimmer than ever before. This is revolutionary in terms of screen design.
Projector TVs
Projector TVs have been around for a long time, but they could be about to experience a new surge in popularity outside of the circles of film buffs with LG’s new projector TV for the home. Sometimes they can be cheaper than screens, but like all televisions, the quality of projectors can vary.
The benefit of a projector TV is that it can provide much larger viewing than a conventional TV, without taking up half as much space. If you’re considering a projector, be aware that you will also have to factor in costs for screens, TV tuners and speakers before you make your purchase – all this could add up to more than a standard television with a lot more hassle.
Case and Framing
Frames have also been developing over the years; we’ve gone from chunky thick frames to slender, gentle ones, but we’ve also seen Samsung’s The Frame Art mode TVs which double as an art display for when your television is on standby.
LG’s rollable TV has also tested the limits of what we consider TV frames to look like, and we are certainly excited to see what the future will bring.
Connectivity (Wi-Fi)
Smart TVs have been a game-changer for the television manufacturing industry – combining all the best parts of computerised entertainment with your TV so you can enjoy it all on your biggest, best screen. The fact that many TVs can now stream television content has liberated viewers worldwide from tight television schedules and the fear of missing their favourite episodes. We’re glad that TVs have been able to keep up with our audience’s changing habits, and we often wonder where television will take us next.
We have plenty of cheap TV deals on our site where you can view the latest models at great prices. Our graded stock means that we rotate our models frequently, so if you check back, you will be sure to find the TV of your dreams at a price you love. In ten years time, perhaps we’ll have even more magnificent inventions to discuss about the development of the TV.
