Television at Present

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 30, 8 February 1929, Page 7

Television at Present

Only in Experimental: Stage . I an address delivered before the _ Seneral session at-the meeting of the National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association of America, Louis B. F. Raycroft, vice-president of-the radio division, declared that "it is an. injustice to the public at large to encourage it to expect television in the immediate future." Emphasising the importance of a correct understanding of television and its importance to the radio industry and the public, Mr. Raycroft said, "a new factor is entering the situation threat- . ening new complications. The public is expecting another kind of broadcasting service popularly known as television. The Federal Radio Commission is éven now considering the formation of regulations to govern this new field of radio endeavour.

"THE great public interest in television is founded upon exaggerated newspaper reports of brilliant laboratory demonstrations rather than upon the actual practical status of this virgin field which is as yet entirely unprepared for commercial: development. A diligent study of the subject leads to the inevitable conclusion that the premature stimulation of public enthusiasm in television is misleading and dangerous to the progress of radio because there is no means of satisfying the demand for reliable home television equipment. . Television remains a laboratory experiment with a number of major and. vital problems still unsolved. There are certain specific technical obstacles to practical television which cannot be overcome unless a fundamental and original invention .or inventions are made and no technically qualified observer will predict whether they will be made within twentyfive, ten or five years, or even less."