Seriously thoughtful Future of TV

[Kumabjorn]

There was a time when the family would gather around the wireless, sit and enjoy theater, news, discussions and some live music. Neighbors that still couldn't afford a wireless was invited over for the treat of listening to sounds emanating from a huge piece of furniture in the living room, while enjoying a cup of tea and some biscuits.

Technology evolved, vacuum tubes were replaced with transistors. The wireless was replaced with radios that became smaller and smaller, to the point that we each and everyone probably own ten or so of them without really even knowing it. They may be in your phone, your watch, your earphones and whatnot. And we don't know about them because the only time we are even aware of listening to a radio is while we are in our cars.

There was a time when the family would gather around the television set, sit and enjoy theater, news, discussions, music and some variety shows. Neighbors that still couldn't afford a television set was invited over for the treat of watching moving pictures emanating from a piece of furniture dominating the living room, while enjoying a cup of coffee and a Danish.

Technology evolved, color was introduced, stereo sound too, then Dolby 5:1 and digital HD. Television sets were replaced with flat screens and people watched on their computers. We now own five or more TVs and might still be aware of them. But is TV going the way of radio? We now have programs produced not for broadcasting but for streaming. Our phones can receive TV broadcasts (in Japan it is built in, in other countries you buy a small device and connect it).

Is there something around the corner that will make TV as ubiquitous as radio?