At least We Keep the Bunny Ears
Time marches on. Black-and-white television sets gave way to color; giant cathode ray tubes sets passing as image projectors gave way to sleek and compact designs, and now the transition to digital TV is nearly complete. direct tv technology has replaced the analogue signal we let into our homes with cable boxes, rabbit ears and even miniature towers made of tin foil. What once took careful planning, gas money and half a paycheck's worth of popcorn can now be had with the press of a button.
The switch to digital transmissions leaves behind increased broadcasting space that will improve the efficiency of communications for the police, fire departments and rescue squads. Also to benefit are companies dealing with data transmission, leaving open the possibility of improvements in wireless broadband technology.
The consumer benefits from a drastically improved image and sound quality, and enjoys "multicasting," which allows for the broadcast of different programs on the same channel at the same time. Either one High Definition or multiple Standard Definition programs will fit within the transmission limits of a single channel, opening up more programming choices for the consumer.
Digital TV is not only a medium for a better viewing experience, but also a platform for interactive data and video features that bring a sense of complete control to the direct TV product. Becoming an informed viewer no longer requires access to newspapers, television guides and other print media. The right buttons on your controller--which may seem intimidating at first--bring up interactive broadcast schedules, pay-per-view options, access to built-in recordable media and much more.
It wasn't so long ago that people were excited to gather around the radio, and fill their heads with the images that televisions weren't around to provide for them. It wasn't long after that that we were captivated with tiny screens filled with grainy black and white images and faint, distorted sounds. Nowadays, the pressing issue seems to be whether those glasses that came with your new television set can really make you think that killer shark just jumped from the screen right onto your lap. Eventually, we'll have to purchase digital shark repellent.
Those old bunny ears might have fallen out of favor with the interests of modern convenience, and we may have bittersweet memories of watching the big game while frantically adjusting those silver tubes up, down, and every which way right before the last play, but the transition to digital is inexorable. Thankfully, those of us who aren't ready to give up those funny little antennas are perfectly entitled to keep them.
