Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

USES OF TELEVISION The Video Art Promises Wide and Important Applications in Business and Education THE use of television in the home as a service of entertain- ment and information is the appli- cation which is receiving the most attention in magazines and news- papers, but there are other uses of the video medium which hold great hopes for the future. Because tele- vision makes it possible to see people and things at a distance, to transmit events from one point to another and provide means of in- specting processes and services from a central vantage point, the art in its fully developed form should find uses in many fields of human activity. However, in this space only a few of the suggested uses can be outlined. Television, for instance, could be a valuable adjunct in banking pro- cedure. Obvious applications would Latest Models of RCA Home Instruments 1—THE SOLITAIRE IS A POCKET-SIZE PERSONAL RADIO, HOUSED IN A PLASTIC CASE WITH GOLD-PLATED FINISH. 2—THE GLOBE TROTTER PORTABLE IS EN CLOSED IN A WEATHERIZED ALUMINUM CASE WITH PLASTIC ENDS AND HANDLE. 3—EQUIPPED WITH A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY, WHICH ELIMINATES THE COST OF DKY-BATTERY RENEWALS, THE ESCORT PORTABLE MAY ALSO BE OPERATED FROM HOUSEHOLD LIGHTING OUTLETS. 4—TABLE MODEL RECEIVER INCORPORAT- ING FM AND STANDARD BROADCASTING. IT IS FINISHED IN WALNUT VENEER AND EMBODIES A SLIDE RULE DIAL FOR EASY TUNING. 5—MODEL 641TV IS A FIVE-IN-ONE IN- STRUMENT. INCLUDED IN THE CONSOLE CABINET ARE A TELEVISION RECEIVER WITH A 10-INCH PICTURE TUBE, FM, STANDARD BROADCAST, SHORTWAVE AND AUTOMATIC VICTROLA PHONOGRAPH. 6—LATEST RCA VICTOR CONSOLE TELE- VISION RECEIVER WITH 52-SQUARE INCH PICTURE SCREEN AND SLIDING TAMBOUR DOORS. 7—VICTROLA RADIO-PHONOGRAPH, MODEL 711V2, WITH FM FACILITIES. PANEL AT LOWER LEFT ENCLOSES GENEROUS REC- ORD STORAGE SPACE. By Noran E. Kersta Manager, Television Dept., National Broadcasting Co. be the instantaneous transmission of signatures from the teller's cage to a central identification file where an endorsement, as it appeared on a screen, could be compared in- stantly with the original. Also, a television camera directed on the patron could project the scene to a "photograph identification section" for even more foolproof and posi- tive identification. When television expands to equal the coverage of sound broadcasting today, it is logical to prophecy that the ten-year-old youth of the next generation will know more about the world, its industries, its gov- ernments and its peoples than his grandfather knew in his entire life- time. With this promise as a start, we progress to the next obvious thought: "educational television" "Educational television" means the use of television in school sys- tems, operated independently of public television broadcasting but closely integrated with established methods of learning. Television in the Schoolroom While educators have shown con- siderable interest in the role that can be played by television in school systems, their concern has been limited for the most part to the use of programs primarily in- tended for the general public but viewed through television receivers installed in the classrooms. Al- though it is possible that such a plan might be developed success- fully, it is likely that more specific and effective uses of television in education are in the offing. A television-equipped school sys- tem, which originates its own pres- entations, designed to be inte- grated directly and scientifically into accepted curricula, would ap- pear to possess more advantages. If, for example, a scientific experi- ment or demonstration were to be transmitted by television, a larger number of students could get a clearer conception of what was tak- ing place than by any other mass teaching method. Educators adopt new teaching methods slowly. After many years of sound broadcasting in this coun- try, school systems only recently have begun to reveal progress in this field. The production of edu- cational motion pictures for school use and their exhibition in class- rooms are only in the starting stage. In view of this, it may seem somewhat ambitious to think of going directly to a complete televi- sion educational system. Neverthe- less, some educators are busily studying the subject. Could Help Teacher Shortage It has been suggested that tele- vision mighc be used to compensate, in part, for the increasing shortage of teachers, a situation which is developing into one of the Nation's critical problems. Through televi- sion, a few of the recognized au- thorities in any subject could teach an unlimited number of students seated before television screens. And, because of the very nature of television, such teachings could be made more dramatic and the effect more lasting. Furthermore, great- er efficiency in the outlay of educa- tional funds would be realized when presenting a "one time" lesson, compared to the cost of present repetitive decentralized instruction. Another visionary but neverthe- less logical application of television might be called, for want of a bet- ter name, "motion picture film pi-o- duction television." As Hollywood operates today, a feature motion picture is produced (Continued on page 25) [RADIO AGE II