Television Essay Research Paper Introduction

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Television Essay, Research Paper Introduction “The instrument can teach, it can illuminate, it can even inspire. But only if human beings are willing to use it to those ends. Otherwise, it is just wires and lights in a box.” Edward R. Murrow, NBC studios in NEW York on June 2, 1953. You use it all the time. It’s a part of your every day life, but do you really have any idea who invented it? Television is the center of the household. It will always be there. You cannot ignore it just as you cannot ignore a plague. Not many ponder it’s power or how it works. This paper tells of the man who did. In fact he invented it. Philo Taylor Farnsworth who was the American inventor of the television during the first half of the century from 1927-1956 had a significant impact on

history because television dramatically changed politics and culture throughout the world. What Edward R. Murrow meant was that television was a great thing if used correctly, if not it was useless. Historical Background Philo Taylor Farnsworth was born in Beaver, Utah on August 19,1906. He discovered the subject of electricity, as a young boy. He became very fascinated with it. He later saw a science magazine that had a article in it about a new idea which an author described as,”…pictures that fly through the air…” Young Philo became interested and decided to look into it. At this time television had already been invented by some inventors such as Paul Nipkow and John Logie Baird, but they had only created mechanical television with spinning disks or mirrors. Philo new

that you could not spin disks fast enough to create a moving picture. He only knew of one thing that could; the electron. One day Philo was daydreaming while disk harrowing a potato field with a two horse team. Row by row by row. Suddenly he got an idea that if he could put lines of dots row by row on the television to make a picture, he would have something. This single idea started the whole thing. At fifteen years of age Philo created his first television system design and showed the design to his chemistry teacher, Justin Tolman. Philo covered a couple of chalkboards with diagrams. After the death of his father, Lewis Farnsworth, Philo quit school to take care of his family. Philo applied for an office boy job. He was interviewed by George Everson who was impressed by his

school record and asked why he dropped out. Philo told him that he had to take care of his family and to work on his invention. After Philo explained it to Mr. Everson, Mr. Everson thought it was a good idea and thought someone should put some money in to it. Mr. Everson remembers this meeting well in his biography on Philo Farnsworth. Mr. Everson and a San Francisco partner named Leslie Gorrel drew up a contract to help the young inventor since only a working model could meet patent requirements. Philo Farnsworth also got twenty-five thousand dollars from the famous San Francisco banker, W.W. Crocker. Philo moved into half of a two family house in San Francisco with his family. The other family was the Gardners. The Gardner’s oldest son, Cliff, became good friends with Philo.

The prettiest of the six Gardner daughters was named Elma, but everyone called her Pem. She was only a year younger than Philo who had started to call himself Phil now because he thought it sounded more mature. On Pem’s birthday in 1926 Phil proposed to her, but their youth and uncertainty of their lives made them postpone setting a wedding date. Later, in the spring of 1926, Phil and Cliff opened their own store to repair radios. Phil and Pem were married in 1926. On Phil’s wedding night Phil confessed to his 19-year-old bride: Pemmie, I have to tell you there is another woman in my life and her name is television. The way I see it, my work is going to be taking most of my time. The only way we will have the time together I would like is for you to work with me. How about