THE AGE OF INVENTION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1928, Page 7

THE AGE OF INVENTION

TELEVISION CO-MING

AUCKLAND, Nov. 20.

“This is the ago of invention,” doclaroil Professor Burbidge, of Auckland University, in an address given to local Rotarinns. The speaker added: “There are men in this room who have seen the introduction and practical development of electric lighting, X-rays, telephone, internal combustion engine and turbine, motor car, tram, cables, air navigation, submarines, wireless, and bacteriology.” The professor then proceeded to outline the incidents relating to the birth of yet another invention, viz., television. The transmission of outlines, photographs and linger prints had been known for a good many years, be said, but bad only recently become commercially practicable, both by wire and by radio. Television, however, implied more than mere transmission, it meant the distant reproduction of a moving picture or object.

THE ELECTRIC EYE

The process, the professor explained, depended for its success upon the translations of .shades of light a,lid dark into electric signals. This was accomplished by an “electric eye,” called a photo electric cell. The speaker produced one of these, not unlike a wireless valve, and explained its marvellous efficiency. This coll, which converted light into electric signals, was more delicate in its operation than the human eye a,ml was capable of registering a variation of light in one millionth part of a second.

Another “exhibit” was a Neon lamp, which has to light and change its illumination 100,000 times per second.

Illustrating those, instruments, the professor pointed out that speed was the essence of the contract when liglil variations had to he considered.

To produce the illusion of continuous motion as is done at cinema entertainments 16 stationary picture* weer thrown on the screen in a second. The human eye was limited in its rapidity of action, at such a speed it could not separate the pictures and the impression of motion was produced. The same must obviously apply at the receiving end of a television apparatus. Therefore to send one complete picture with shades of liglil to give a reasistie reproduction took at least 10,000 signals; i.e., if one imagined a face divider! into squares, it would need 10.000 squares to convey the correct gradations of light and dark. Tt was therefore necessary to send at least 160,000 signals per second at a constant speed and to know that the speed was exactly the same at both ends. WHAT HAS BERN DONE. “Some problem,” commented the professor, ns he proceeded to relate what had actually been accomplished in this connection. Last year images were sent from London to Glasgow over a post office telephone line, and in February of (his year transmission was accomplished by radio to New York. The reception was not perfect, but the feat bad been accomplished, a recognisable moving image of a human being having been reproduced in New York. Further advances were being made. Baird, of London, demonstrated colour television in an ex perinicntal way and the British Broadcasting Co. was announcing television broadcasts. .Tonkins, at Washington was sending silhouette “movies” ovc: - the radio and instructing amateur* bow to build the simple receiving np (paratus.

THE FUTURE

Of future possibilities, Rrofessoi Rurbidge spoke of the broadcasting of such scenes' as election nights, coronations, theatrical performances, football matches, boxing contests, etc.

Important conferences providing both sight and sound could be held, avoiding the need to travel when such conferences were necessary. The effects on international education would bo marked and the general influences upon ,thc human, mind, modifying its entire outlook, were amongst the facts that must he faced.