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

million radio receivers were in use in 45 million homes of our country — or 95 percent of the population. This, then, is the measure of the service which has extended man's power to hear — to listen at a distance. For as long as man has had the concept and the vision to do so, he has likewise dreamed of sight at a distance. It is significant that as the pioneers were first experi- menting with and conceiving uses for radio transmission, other pioneers were cars'ing out the beginnings of tele- vision. Here, however, real progress in the art had to await the development of refined instrumentalities of electronics. Television of a practical and commercial nature began as World War II developed. Once started, the service marked time until the cessation of hostilities. Since then, the growth has been phenomenal — beyond the estimates of the most optimistic. Last year in this country some 71/2 million television receivers were pro- duced, representing a retail value of approximately 2 billion dollars. Today, more than 14 million television receivers are in operation. 109 television broadcasting stations serve more than 60 important areas representing roughly 60 percent of the nation's population. The number of stations would be much larger except for the "freeze" on new stations which has been in effect since 1948. The majority of the 109 stations are now served by network programs. This network facility has just recently become trans- continental. Currently, billings for television network broadcasting are approximately the same as that of sound broadcasting. Soon it is expected that new station authorizations will be given, both through the lifting of the freeze and the establishment of service in the ultra-high radio frequencies. What Electronics has Accomplished We have examined three of the stepping stone.s leading to the present. There are others. Electronics gave the silent films a voice. Electronics gave the speaker, the singer, and the performer an enlarged voice for large audiences. Radio and electronics gave the public, industry, and individuals means to com- municate and means to control at a distance. Electronics means control and safety on land on sea, and in the air. Now industrial forms of television permit sight at a distance in places where it is difficult or dangerous for man to view. Other forms of industrial television per- mit teaching in new and improved ways. Electronics abounds in control processes for machincr)' in factories. Now electronics is doing our counting, our computing at lightning speed. There are facets so numerous that I can but mention these few examples. Radio provided its first major test as a military tool during World War I. By World War II, radio and elec- tronics were integral parts of the military machine. Superiority in radio, radar, and electronics had much to do with the outcome of the conflict. One used to sav that an army marched on its stomach. Now one may say that military might on land, on sea, and in the air. lives, mo\es, siioots, and conquers on its electronics. Radio and electronics are the "brains" on which all military movements and actions depend. New Materials Enter Scene Radio equipment of the early days made use of es- sentially the same materials as its older brother, the electrical industry. I mean the use of conductors — ma- terials permitting the ready movement of electrons when under the proper influence; insulators — materials where the electrons are bound; and magnetic materials. From almost the beginning, however, a new class of materials entered the radio scene. These were neither conductors nor insulators in the usual sense and they did not obey Ohm's law. I refer to the loosely packed particles of the coherer and the crystal with its point contacts. These were the detectors of radio waves. While the perform- ance of such units could be measured, the basis of the performance was little understood. Except for such specialty applications these semi-conductors were the discards of the electric and radio arts. They served well I Continued on Page 26) The tiny transistor (left) is compared here with a minia- ture vacuum tube which it may eventually replace in radio sets and other electronic apparatus. ?4 RADIO AGE