Plasma televisions have come a long way since they first appeared about a decade ago and they have become the newest must-have home appliance there is on the market. They’re flat, hip and offer stunning images unlike anything we’ve seen on older television models before. Plasma televisions do seem to have it all, but are they the answer to all our home entertainment prayers or just a trend? Unfortunately, plasma televisions have a few disadvantages.

The cost

This is the number one consideration for many videophiles and plasma televisions are not cheap at all. When they first came out in the 90s, the price tag for plasma television sets showed a whopping $10000. That forms a part of a regular home mortgage and enough to have consumers running in the opposite direction.

These days, though, the price has calmed down thanks to better production practices and the magic of demand. In fact, a good-sized brand-name plasma TV costs at least $2500. That’s still the price of about three regular TVs with a few video CDs thrown in. Compared to its nearest rival, the LCD TV, plasma televisions, one of its disadvantages, still cost more.

But with the price comes quality. Nowhere else can you find the kind of high-definition viewing pleasure that plasma televisions can offer. If their price is a disadvantage, they more than make up for it with their quality. Besides, for a genuine videophile, plasma televisions have a short return on investment and they will more than … Continue Reading ...

Plasma televisions are today a popular commodity and used by millions all over the world. However, little is known about the history of the plasma television, when it was first invented and how it become so popular. Here we plot the development of this technology and who played key roles along the way.

It all started with a Hungarian scientist called Kálmán Tihanyi, an engineer who had previously designed television-based guidance systems for defense applications, including prototypes of an optically-controlled, pilot-less aircraft. He would also make significant contributions to the design of cathode ray tubes. In 1936 Tihanyi described the basic principles behind plasma television.

These ideas were taken on by David Bitzer, H Gene Slottow and Robert Wilson at the University of Illinois who together gave “birth” to the monochrome (black and white) plasma display in 1964. This display was part of a computer system project (by the name of PLATO. PLATO was shut in 1996 but incidentally was a trailblazer for major internet based concepts that we now as forums, message boards, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages, instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multi-player games.

Another key figure in the development of plasma displays was Larry F Webber who pursued postgraduate study under Bitzer and Slottow in the 1960s. Webbers research papers would eventually earn him 15 patents relating to the subject.

The worlds first full colour plasma display was made by Fujtsu in 1992. The same company was also responsible for the first 42-inch plasma display in … Continue Reading ...