Introduction
The term ‘portable TV’ brings to mind different pictures and different sizes to different consumers. What everyone will readily agree upon is that a portable TV has to be a smaller TV than the conventional size. Also, it has to come with handles or reinforced castings.
Regular Features of portable TVs
A portable TV set typically comes with a screen size less than 13”. Some of the models still use the CRT (cathode ray tube) technology. But the newer models increasingly go for the LCD (liquid crystal display) and flat screens, adding to compactness and convenience.
The earliest models of portable TVs were small black and white models that still had to be connected to a household power outlet. These were typically used as additional sets to be kept in children’s rooms or kitchens. The necessity to connect with a power outlet actually limited the portability of these models. Battery-operated models came into the picture later. However the limited battery charge was a constraint on the viewing time. It was only later in nineteen-eighties that multipurpose boom boxes were launched. These models with small screens and tuners are the closest to today’s models of portable TV sets.
The New Era
The new era in the story of portable TV started in the end of nineteen-eighties when Casio and Sony launched pocket size televisions. These mobile units could be carried virtually everywhere. These models came with headphones and other features thus making them comparable with pocket radios. These models were pretty appealing to people on the move, but for the very small size of the picture screen. Moreover the casings of these models were very vulnerable to elements such as weather and neglect.
The Picture Today
Rapid advance in LCD screen technology is the most important factor that has helped the portable TV market. LCD screens are far more compact than cathode ray tubes. Further, LCD has tiny individual transistors to back up each pixel on screen, so this technology provides for far better definition and vibrancy.
Research has also developed sturdier casings for the portable models. These casings can withstand rough handling and poor weather conditions much better than the earlier versions. LCD screens are also lower on power consumption, so battery life improves considerably. The new portable TVs can also be used to display videos and gaming programs.
Technology today has portable TV models the size of a Sony Discman, which can show you all of your favorite shows and videos. The concept has also caught on with mobile telephony. Some mobile telephone companies now have the facility to broadcast television programs on the device’s screen area. For all you know, the next thing you will end up with might be a cell phone that also doubles as a portable TV set! |
