Contrary to popular belief, flat screen televisions were invented over three decades ago by a group of scientists at the University of Illinois in 1964. The critical system part that makes the television work is plasma technology, and the group was the first scientists to discover and understand how to utilize this plasma technology. The research began with the ultimate intention and goal being to provide a clear picture on their computer monitors.

They understood that a clearer picture ultimately meant less eye strain and headaches due to the strain. In essence, they could spend more time researching other areas because they would not have fatigue due to eye strain. A clearer picture also meant that they were able to scrutinize image’s closer than before.

The normal computer monitors in those days were very similar to today’s CRT computer monitors. Essentially they were just normal picture tube televisions plugged into the computer systems. Clearly you can envision the average picture quality of the early 1960s television sets.

Bear in mind however, that the flat screen television sets that the scientists were designing only resemble today’s televisions set in theory only. Major technological advancements have been made since then in order to bring to the consumers what are now known as the average flat screen TV. The first flat screen TV was very bulky and not that practical by today’s standards. However, it did function and operate like today’s television sets. The scientist understood that they had accomplished what they set out to conquer. Imagine how the scientist felt when they first saw the image on the screen that they designed. If you are an older adult, I’m sure you remember how you felt the first time you saw the high quality, crisp and clean picture quality that a flat screen has to offer.

The flat screen television has many great advantages over the CRT (Cathode Ray Television) sets that most of us grew up watching. The audio and video are tremendously clean and crisp without the appearance of “fuzzy” outlines. The audio on a flat screen is by far more superior then the older television sets. Besides the obvious technological advancements that a flat screen offers, there are advantages such as a smaller, lightweight and compact design that will allow you to install a flat screen anywhere in your home or office. Special wall mount brackets are now being sold to enable you to hang one on your wall. This is an option that you absolutely couldn’t perform with the older, bulkier and much heavier CRT sets.

Thanks to the innovative design of the flat screen, it is now possible for laptops to be common place. Without the advent of flat screens, imagine how a laptop would look. They definitely wouldn’t be the small and lightweight design that we see in today’s laptops. With the tireless efforts of scientist and engineers alike, the first laptops were indeed equipped with a flat screen monitor. They were not as lightweight as they are today but they worked like they do today. If you have ever seen on of the first laptops that were produced, you will instantly notice the tremendous weight of one in comparison to today’s laptops. Keep in mind that with the advancement of technology, time makes everything work better and more efficiently. The more we learn about plasma technology, the more options that are available to us. This is how the laptop became the sleek design we see today.

Indeed television sets are one of the most advanced devices given the timeframe in which they were first invented. They rank among the top of the list of the most advanced inventions in the shortest amount of time. One might wonder what the next fifty years of technology will bring to us. Now that we have a thorough understanding of plasma technology, and still learning more each day, we could see flat screen television sets attached to people like wrist watches.

Even though the prices of flat screen televisions are considered high to some, for the technology that you are receiving, it’s a wonderful deal. If by chance you are still watching a CRT set, plug a flat screen television in and see the difference.