Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1945. TELEVISION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 269, 24 August 1945, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1945. TELEVISION

Radar and the atomic bomb are two of the greatest discoveries which have come out of the war, but scientists have made rapid progress in other directions. So lar the results of research have mot been revealed, but it is posLsible that some startling discoveries will be unfolded in the not far distant future. Many of these, it is hoped, will directly benefit mankind, and one which has been referred to on more than one occasion is television. The report of the Hankey Commission on television, which was completed in 1943, has been the subject of study by broadcast authorities throughout the British Empire. Though its recommendations apply only to Great Britain, they are likely to have far-reaching consequences elsewhere. The Commission’s personnel included the highest authorities available in the British field of radio and television. Expert witnesses were called representing the 8.8. C. and the radio industry, and the best possible information was placed before it. The television situation was examined, with regard to possible developments in the Dominion, by Mr J. R. Smith, chief engineer of the Broadcasting Service, when he attended the recent Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference in London, and again when he was in New York. One of the difficulties encountered with television in pre-war days, he says, was the definition of the pictures on a standard screen of 405 lines. The Hankey Commission had recommended that the use of a standard of 1000 lines should be investigated, which would give definition equivalent to the screen equipment of a cinema theatre. It was anticipated, however, that for some years at least the two systems would operate the former one, with the small screen, and an improved service with a larger screen, so that those people already in possession of receivers would obtain service for a reasonable period. It is interesting to note, however, that Mr Smith was much impressed by the possibilities of television, following a demonstration with pre-war equipment. He viewed a programme of an hour’s duration, and his comment was: “The quality of the pictures was in every way satisfactory, though the size of the screen (12in by lOin.) was of the pre-war standard. Undoubtedly, the smallness of the screen is one of the weaknesses of the television set, and it is difficult to depict all classes of material in that size.” Definition was not so clear, with the larger-sized projector type of equipment. However, that was a line upon .which the British and American experts were working, and it was hoped that an improvement would be effected. Latest American comment in regard to television suggests that research has taken the matter a good deal further, and it should not be many years before television at’reasonable cost is brought to this country. _