Photo by Christian Montome

Over the decades, TVs have widened and slimmed down considerably from their box-shaped ancestors. To put it simply, boxes have become screens and televisions have become home cinemas.

But did you ever wonder where it all began? The story of the television spans decades and it hasn't stopped yet.

The humble beginning of the mechanical 'box'

When television sets first entered our living rooms in the late 1920s, they bore almost no resemblance to the light, hi-tech gadgets of the 21st century. In fact they looked more like ornate furniture than an electrical device. The screen itself was locked away in a mysterious little cupboard, as if to stop the images leaking out into your living room when you weren't looking.

These television sets are from the 'mechanical era of television' where the images are produced using a spinning disk and a neon lamp. The size of the screen was so small that actors had to take it in turns to appear on camera; otherwise you wouldn't be able to see them.

In 1931 Allen B. Du Mont created the first commercially viable cathode ray tube television which allowed televisions to become bigger and brighter. The screen sizes were still very small compared to today's standards and the TV mount was still a wooden cabinet, although by now, the screens were no longer hidden away, meaning audiences must have become more trusting of their new living room companion.

It wasn't until the 1950s that televisions really became a 'must have' for any living room. By this time, the television had grown again and seemed to have hatched out of the cabinet-like shell of earlier decades.

Life became coloured in

In 1953 the television took the next step towards becoming the TV we know and love. The box became illuminated with colour. This new technology was not embraced by everyone and most people didn't get colour until the mid-1960s. In fact in 2013, thirteen thousand people in the UK still don't have it.

The television's box-shaped form didn't change much for decades, it was a classic design and all that changed were the fashions and TV programmes they broadcast.

The popularity of televisions grew and by 1970, 95% of American households had one. It wasn't until the new millennia that the cathode ray tube television sets were phased out to be replaced by widescreen rear projection TVs. The TV was no longer a box.

The end of the 'box'

Since then TV technology has advanced at a rapid rate with most consumers keeping up with the technology chase. Screens became slimmer and larger and went from using LCD to LED.

The size of television screens has increased by 37% in the last seven years and if this trend keeps going, we may have to build bigger houses! The old TV Cabinets would buckle under the weight of 21st century screen.

A television in the 21st century is much more than a box, more than even just a television. Our TVs are 3D home movie theatres and even ways to browse the internet.

What's next for the 'rectangle'?

Judging from the latest CES show, the next transformation for the television is from an object to an experience.

Samsung have created a 'transparent showcase', a glass box made from LCD screens which project an image inside when switched on.

This may seem like technology from a science fiction film, but it gets even stranger with Russia's offering at CES. Displair has created a seemingly impossible screenless display. The invention uses a humidifier to generate a curtain of air made from water particles. The air is substantial enough to project an image onto, but still dry to touch.

This technology is still a prototype and is not yet ready to play anything as high quality as a movie. It does however offer a glimpse at a very box-less future.

The story of the television is not yet complete. Where do you see the TV in 10 years time? Are you nostalgic about its earlier incarnations?

Author Bio
Gavin Harvey is a fitness fanatic with an insatiable case of wanderlust. When not working out he can be found watching classic movies with his girlfriend or partying at music festivals. He writes for AV4Home.