In this blog post, we’ll explore the origins and evolution of television, its role in modern society, the reasons why it remains necessary even in the age of smartphones and the internet, and the direction of its future development.
In the past, the television was always at the center of the living room. After dinner, families would gather in front of the TV to watch the news, dramas, and variety shows, bringing the day to a close. However, today we live in an era where a single smartphone allows us to enjoy everything from news and movies to dramas and sports events. So, has television become a device that’s fallen behind the times? Or is it still an essential part of our lives?
Television laid the groundwork for its full-scale development when British inventor John Logie Baird, after dedicating himself to its development since the early 1920s, successfully conducted the first public demonstration in 1926. The name “television” is a combination of the Greek word “tele,” meaning “far,” and the Latin word “vision,” meaning “to see.” As the name suggests, a television is a device designed to receive and display video and audio transmitted from distant locations. Today, it refers to the primary display device used to watch video content broadcast not only by television stations but also by various content providers.
Television began as mechanical television, which transmitted images using rotating discs. However, the mechanical system had a complex structure and low image quality, and there were technical limitations to improving screen clarity. For these reasons, it did not become widely adopted; television began to truly gain popularity with the advent of electronic television using cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). CRT televisions resolved most of the issues associated with the earlier mechanical systems, and as broadcasting evolved from the black-and-white era to the color era, they began providing viewers with even more vivid images.
From this period onward, the television transcended its role as a simple video delivery device to occupy an important place in the home. Families gathered together to watch programs and share social and cultural experiences, and these experiences played a crucial role in fostering family bonds and nurturing a sense of community. Television evolved from a simple household appliance into a central medium for shaping family culture.
Since then, display technology has advanced rapidly. Because cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions became thicker and heavier as screen sizes increased, and there were limits to improving picture quality, flat-panel displays—primarily LCDs and PDPs—emerged in the 1990s. Since then, the development of various display technologies—such as LED, OLED, QLED, Mini LED, and Micro LED—has led to dramatic improvements in picture quality, contrast ratio, and color reproduction. Furthermore, broadcasting has completely transitioned from analog to digital; in South Korea, the digital broadcasting system has been fully established since the termination of terrestrial analog broadcasting in 2012.
One of the most important functions of television is the delivery of information. News and current affairs programs are prime examples. Through the news, people learn about various events and social changes occurring both domestically and internationally, and through current affairs programs, they can hear the opinions of various experts and people from different walks of life, helping them form their own views. Television also plays a crucial role in raising public awareness of issues that require social attention and in shaping public opinion. For example, when natural disasters or major accidents occur, it is common to see many people taking an interest and participating in donations during broadcasts organized to raise funds for recovery efforts.
The second important function of television is entertainment. Representative programs include dramas, variety shows, sports broadcasts, movies, and animated series. After finishing their daily routines, people share emotional moments with their families while watching dramas and find laughter through variety shows. Children also nurture their imagination and have fun watching animations. In this way, television is not merely a device for passing the time; it has played a vital role in providing people with relaxation and enjoyment, thereby enhancing their quality of life.
Furthermore, television has served an educational purpose. By providing diverse learning content and knowledge through educational channels, documentaries, and cultural programs, it has helped facilitate education naturally within the home. Recently, with the advent of smart TVs connected to the internet, which make it even more convenient to watch online lectures and educational content, television is evolving beyond a mere entertainment device into a comprehensive platform for education and information.
At one time, television was the most influential mass medium. In the past, people had to sit in front of the television at set broadcast times to watch dramas, news, and variety shows. Since there were almost no alternative devices at the time, television exerted a tremendous influence across society. Most socially significant events and national ceremonies were also broadcast on television, which had a major impact on shaping public opinion. Because it was not an environment where anyone could freely produce and share content as they can today, the influence of information disseminated by broadcasters was far greater than it is now.
However, with the widespread adoption of computers and the internet, as well as the rapid proliferation of smartphones, this environment has changed dramatically. People can now check the news in real time via the internet and watch any video they want at any time. Furthermore, with the emergence of video platforms like YouTube, various social media platforms, and online news services, the focus of information dissemination has gradually expanded to include a variety of digital platforms. We have now entered an era where anyone can create content and share it with people around the world, and the role of information dissemination—once exclusively performed by television—is now shared among multiple platforms.
The way people consume video content has also changed significantly. In the past, viewers had to tune in at scheduled broadcast times, but today they can watch the content they want whenever they want using a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop PCs, and smart TVs. In particular, with the proliferation of OTT services, people have become accustomed to selecting the content they want directly, rather than conforming to broadcast schedules. With the emergence of various OTT services such as Netflix, Disney+, TVING, Wavve, and Coupang Play, television is evolving beyond the concept of a broadcast receiver to become a display device for enjoying diverse content.
As a result, functions that were once unique to the television are gradually being shared with other devices. So, since smartphones and computers can also be used to watch broadcasts, can they be considered televisions? Strictly speaking, no. Smartphones and computers are general-purpose devices developed for a variety of purposes, such as internet browsing, document creation, gaming, communication, and work. In contrast, a television is fundamentally a device optimized for comfortably viewing video content on a large screen. Of course, smartphones and computers do fulfill some of the roles of a television in that they can be used to watch broadcasts and videos, but there are clear differences in their original purposes and usage environments.
French philosopher Jean Baudrillard explained that in modern society, the boundaries between reality and the virtual, and between the original and the copy, are becoming increasingly blurred. From this perspective, traditional televisions, smartphones, and computers are also becoming increasingly similar in terms of functionality. In the past, the roles performed by each device were clearly distinguished, but today we live in an era where it is natural for a single device to perform multiple functions. Therefore, it can be said that the television is also transforming from a standalone device of the past into a platform that connects with various digital devices.
Amid these changes, the television is constantly evolving to adapt to the new era. Whereas televisions of the past were simply devices for receiving broadcasts, today’s televisions have evolved into comprehensive media platforms that integrate the internet and artificial intelligence. Manufacturers are applying various new technologies to offer value that sets their products apart from traditional televisions; as a result, new product forms—including smart TVs, OLED TVs, QLED TVs, Mini LED TVs, Micro LED TVs, and transparent displays—are continuously emerging.
Smart TVs, in particular, are a prime example of the most significant transformation in modern television. Smart TVs come standard with internet connectivity and allow users to perform a wide range of functions on a single device—including watching broadcast TV, using OTT services, web browsing, listening to music, gaming, video conferencing, and utilizing various applications. Recently, with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, they now offer features such as searching for content via voice commands, analyzing viewers’ preferences to recommend personalized content, and automatically optimizing picture and sound quality. Furthermore, by linking with smart home systems, they serve as central hubs for the home, controlling lighting, heating and cooling systems, and home appliances.
3D TVs, once hailed as next-generation technology, garnered significant attention for their ability to produce stereoscopic images. However, they failed to gain widespread adoption due to the inconvenience of wearing special glasses, a lack of content, and eye strain caused by prolonged viewing. Subsequently, the television industry shifted its focus from 3D technology to improving picture quality, developing AI capabilities, and advancing ultra-high-resolution display technologies. Currently, next-generation displays—including OLED and Micro LED—are leading the market.
Transparent displays are also steadily evolving as one of the technologies of the future. Leveraging their ability to appear as transparent as glass when powered off, they are being utilized in various fields such as commercial facilities, exhibition spaces, and transportation infrastructure; recently, some premium home-use products have also been introduced. Although prices remain relatively high at present, their range of applications is expected to expand further as technology advances and production costs decrease.
As such, televisions have not simply had their functions taken over by smartphones and computers; rather, they have evolved into new forms by incorporating the strengths of each other. By adding internet connectivity, artificial intelligence, streaming services, and smart home functionality to traditional broadcasting, televisions have transformed into devices that perform a far wider range of roles than in the past.
Televisions are likely to evolve even further in the future. Artificial intelligence technology will analyze users’ viewing habits with greater precision to provide personalized services, while ultra-high-resolution displays and Micro LED technology will deliver picture quality that closely resembles reality. Furthermore, convergence with technologies such as rollable and transparent displays, spatial computing, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) is expected to gradually expand. The television of the future is highly likely to evolve beyond a simple device for watching videos into a core platform that connects various digital services.
Of course, the use of smartphones and tablets—which offer excellent portability and mobility—will continue to grow. However, the experience of watching movies or sports games together as a family and enjoying content on a large, high-definition screen remains a key advantage that only the television can provide. Therefore, rather than competing with one another, personal devices and televisions are likely to evolve toward coexistence, leveraging their respective strengths.
Ultimately, while the television has lost the dominant position it once held due to the emergence of smartphones and the internet, it has not become an obsolete device. Rather, it has continuously evolved in step with the changing times and created new value. Today, the television has established itself as a comprehensive media platform that connects artificial intelligence, the internet, and a wide variety of content, going far beyond a simple broadcast receiver. As long as technology continues to advance, the television will continue to play an important role in our daily lives by adopting new forms and functions.
