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Radio Broadcasting
Commercial use of radio broadcasting first came to be in the early 1920’s, with the first station still being debated between 1920-1923. Pittsburgh's Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company is thought to be the first scheduled transmission that was broadcasted on Nov 2, 1920. Radio stations today provide local information that supports different events, charities and businesses -
Sound in Movies
While the exact date of the first sound film is debated, "The Jazz Singer" is widely recognized as the first feature-length motion picture with synchronized sound. Released on October 6, 1927, this landmark film, directed by Alan Crosland and starring Al Jolson, featured synchronized musical sequences and limited dialogue. The Vitaphone sound-on-disc system, developed by Western Electric and Warner Bros played a pivotal role in this technological breakthrough. -
Technicolor
The Technicolor process revolutionized the film industry by introducing vibrant and realistic color to motion pictures. It was first used commercially in the film "Becky Sharp," which premiered on June 4, 1935. Developed by Technicolor Corporation, this groundbreaking technology involved a complex three-color dye transfer process, allowing filmmakers to capture and reproduce a wide spectrum of colors on screen. -
FM Radio
Edwin Armstrong, an American electrical engineer, invented FM radio in the 1930s. The first public demonstration of FM broadcasting took place on July 18, 1935. Unlike AM radio, FM radio provided clearer, static-free sound quality and was less susceptible to interference. Armstrong's FM radio technology allowed for higher-fidelity audio transmissions, making it ideal for music broadcasts. -
Commercial Television Broadcasting
The end of World War II saw a renewed interest and investment in television technology, leading to increased consumer access to television sets. In the United States, NBC (National Broadcasting Company) resumed regular commercial television broadcasts on July 1, 1941, after a temporary hiatus during the war. This period saw the emergence of popular television programs and the establishment of commercial television networks. -
LP Vinyl Records
Columbia Records introduced the long-playing (LP) vinyl record on June 21, 1948. Designed by Peter Goldmark, the LP offered an extended playing time of about 23 minutes per side, compared to the standard 78 RPM records that could only hold a few minutes of music. -
Color Television
The first color television broadcast in the United States took place on January 1, 1954, when NBC aired the Tournament of Roses Parade in color. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that color television became widely adopted. The first practical color television set, the RCA CT-100, was introduced in 1954. The 1960s marked a significant expansion of color programming, enhancing the viewing experience and transforming the way people enjoyed entertainment at home. -
Videotape Recorder (VTR)
Ampex Corporation introduced the first practical and commercially successful videotape recorder, the Ampex VRX-1000 on April 14, 1956. This device allowed for the recording and playback of television broadcasts on magnetic tape, replacing the cumbersome and less flexible process of live broadcasting. -
Remote Television
The first practical wireless remote control for televisions, the Zenith Space Command, was introduced on June 3, 1956. Invented by Eugene Polley, this remote control used ultrasonic frequencies to change channels and control volume. The Space Command marked the beginning of the era of convenience in television viewing, allowing viewers to change channels without leaving their seats. This innovation laid the foundation for the development of modern remote control technology -
Interactive Computer Graphics
In the 1960s, researchers and computer scientists began exploring the possibilities of interactive computer graphics, which allowed users to interact with and manipulate images on computer screens. One notable development was the creation of the Sketchpad system by Ivan Sutherland in 1963. Sketchpad was a groundbreaking computer program that allowed users to draw and manipulate geometric shapes directly on a computer screen using a light pen. -
Polaroid
The Polaroid SX-70, introduced on April 20, 1972, was a groundbreaking instant camera designed by Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid Corporation. Unlike traditional film cameras that required users to send film to a lab for development, the SX-70 produced self-developing prints within minutes. -
Sony Walkman
The Sony Walkman, introduced on July 1, 1979, by Sony Corporation, revolutionized personal music listening. Invented by Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka, the Walkman was a portable cassette player with lightweight headphones, allowing users to carry their music wherever they went. The Walkman became a cultural phenomenon, influencing the way people experienced and shared music. -
Compact Discs (CDs)
The first commercially available compact disc player, the Sony CDP-101, was introduced on October 1, 1982. Developed jointly by Sony and Philips, the compact disc (CD) revolutionized audio storage by offering digital, high-quality sound. CDs replaced vinyl records and cassette tapes as the dominant music format, providing users with a durable and convenient medium for music playback. The introduction of CDs also paved the way for the development of digital audio technology. -
Desktop Publishing
The concept of desktop publishing emerged in the 1980s with the introduction of personal computers and software that allowed users to create and design documents on their desktops. Apple's Macintosh computer, released in 1984, played a significant role in popularizing desktop publishing with its user-friendly interface and graphic capabilities. -
Internet
The World Wide Web became publicly accessible on August 6, 1991, marking the beginning of widespread internet use. Developed by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, the web allowed users to navigate and access information through interconnected hypertext documents. The internet rapidly transformed communication, commerce, and information-sharing, connecting people globally. -
Digital Television
The transition to digital television (DTV) began in the 1990s, with the first digital television broadcasts taking place in the United States in 1996. DTV offered superior image and sound quality, as well as additional features like interactive programming and multicasting. The switch to digital broadcasting, completed in 2009 with the analog-to-digital transition, marked a significant advancement in television technology. -
MP3 Players
The first portable MP3 player, the MPMan F10, was introduced in South Korea in 1998. However, it was in the early 2000s that MP3 players gained widespread popularity. Apple's iPod, launched on October 23, 2001, became a cultural phenomenon, offering users a sleek and user-friendly device for storing and playing digital music files. -
Social Media
The emergence of social media platforms gained momentum in the mid-2000s, with websites like Friendster, MySpace, and LinkedIn paving the way for the social media revolution. However, it was Facebook, launched on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg and his co-founders, that became a global phenomenon. -
Streaming Services
The popularity of streaming services soared in the 2010s, transforming how people consumed video and audio content. Netflix, originally a DVD rental service, shifted its focus to streaming in 2007, and by the early 2010s, it became a dominant force in the industry. The rise of platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others disrupted traditional television and movie distribution models, offering on-demand access to a vast library of content. -
Virtual Reality in Media
The 2010s saw a resurgence of interest in virtual reality (VR) technology, with advancements in hardware and software driving its integration into various media experiences. Oculus Rift, a VR headset developed by Oculus VR, was introduced in 2016, bringing immersive virtual reality experiences to consumers. VR found applications in gaming and filmmaking, offering users a new level of engagement with content. -
5G Networks
The fifth generation of wireless technology, 5G, became a transformative force in the 2020s, enabling faster and more reliable communication networks. The first commercial 5G networks were launched in 2019, with widespread global deployment in the following years. 5G networks offered significantly higher data transfer speeds, lower latency, and increased connectivity, enhancing the capabilities of mobile devices and powering the Internet of Things (IoT). -
AI in Content Creation
Artificial intelligence has been playing an increasingly prominent role in content creation during the 2020s. AI-powered tools and platforms allow creators to streamline their workflows, generate content more efficiently, and explore innovative approaches to storytelling. It is hard to tell exactly when AI started to become popular in content creation, but it has only been in recent years that AI has begun to see the advancements needed for video production.