tv technology library

 

There is always something new to learn about television technology. View our list of 10 Terrific TVs, learn about cable, eyevision, projection television and remote controls, among other topics.

Featured Article:  How Satellite TV Works

Satellite TV once required a huge eyesore of a dish positioned on the lawn. These days, you can receive the digital satellite signal with a tiny bowl attached to your roof. Find out how satellite TV works. See more »

10 Trendy TVs

10 Trendy TVs

If you're looking to build your very own home theater, don't pick out a TV without taking a look at these 10 terrific models.

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All About Television

All About Television

The modern world and TV are deeply intertwined. Read on for a collection of HowStuffWorks articles covering nearly everything you might ever want to know about TV.

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Are thin-screen TVs more fragile than rear-projection or CRT TVs?

Are thin-screen TVs more fragile than rear-projection or CRT TVs?

Flat-panel TVs are thinner than the behemoths that used to sit in our living rooms. But glass is glass -- is there really any difference in how fragile these new TVs are?

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Classic TV Quiz

Classic TV Quiz

When TV sets made their way into American homes in the 1940s, it marked a cultural transformation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend more than half their leisure time watching television. So what have we been watching all t

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Do I really need a digital converter box for my TV?

Do I really need a digital converter box for my TV?

On Feb. 17, 2009, TV sets in the United States will need a converter to watch local stations. Is your television ready for the switch?

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How 3-D TV Works

How 3-D TV Works

When you think of watching a movie in 3-D, you may think of those goofy glasses with multicolor lenses. But that's the old way to do 3-D. Now, you might not need glasses at all.

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How Apple TV Works

How Apple TV Works

Apple TV has been around since 2006, but it's fallen out of favor with Apple fans as the company turned its attention toward music lovers. Now, Apple TVs are flying off the shelves as users discover their compatibility with HDTV.

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How Cable Television Works

How Cable Television Works

Millions of people receive their television signal through a cable TV connection. Most of them don't actually know what "cable TV" is, what it does or how it got its name. Find out!

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How does the electron gun inside a TV work, and why is it called an "electron gun"?

How does the electron gun inside a TV work, and why is it called an "electron gun"?

They sound a little bit like something out of "Star Wars," but they're actually the devices that are at the heart of most TVs and computer monitors.

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How EyeVision Works

How EyeVision Works

EyeVision promises to revolutionize the way we think of instant replays. If you watched Super Bowl XXXV, you saw EyeVision in action. Learn how the camera view "flies" around the field to show you every angle.

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How Internet TV Works

How Internet TV Works

Internet TV is relatively new -- there are lots of different ways to get it, and quality, content and cost can vary greatly. Internet TV streams television signals over the Internet to a person's computer screen or TV set.

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How Jumbo TV Screens Work

How Jumbo TV Screens Work

The video screens at sporting events and concerts are almost like your TV -- except that they're GIGANTIC! Learn about the technology that makes these 30-foot displays possible.

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How Projection Television Works

How Projection Television Works

When the picture has to be BIG, a traditional CRT monitor isn't practical. For an oversized image, projection television is a must. Learn how these video systems produce a high-resolution image for a huge screen.

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How Remote Controls Work

How Remote Controls Work

In WWII, remote controls detonated bombs for the first time. Now some of us spend an hour looking for the remote before we remember there are buttons on the TV. Find out the difference between a "universal" and a "learning" remote and check out some of the other high-tech features you can find on remotes today.

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How Satellite TV Works

How Satellite TV Works

Satellite TV once required a huge eyesore of a dish positioned on the lawn. These days, you can receive the digital satellite signal with a tiny bowl attached to your roof. Find out how satellite TV works.

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How SED-TV Works

How SED-TV Works

The surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) combines the picture quality of a CRT with the compact design of a flat-screen plasma display. Learn exactly how the SED-TV creates a picture.

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How Television Works

How Television Works

Television has been around long enough to seem ordinary, but the box that brings TV shows into your home is an amazing device. How is the picture formed? Where does the color come from? Find out.

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Inside a TV Remote Control

Inside a TV Remote Control

A fascinating look inside a TV's remote control (including the printed circuit board)!

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TV Buying Guide

TV Buying Guide

Shopping for TVs is, in a word, overwhelming. You go to the store, start looking at sets, features, shapes and sizes. Suddenly you feel like the only thing you're going to leave with is a headache. Luckily, we're here to help!

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What does a V-chip do and how does it work?

What does a V-chip do and how does it work?

As of 1999, all new television sets sold in the United States have to contain a V-chip. How does the V-chip screen for undesirable content?

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