EBU Technical Review : No. 271 (Spring 1997)
"For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, saw the Vision of the World, and all that would be" (Alfred Lord Tennyson)
This year marks the twentieth edition of the International Television Symposium (ITS) to be held in Montreux, Switzerland.
Down through the years, the Symposium has mapped the evolution of broadcasting technology, highlighting the contemporaneous important topics. It, and other similar international events, have served as watersheds along the never-ending road of technological development, showcasing the latest techniques and equipment.
As a contribution to the ninth ITS in 1975, some 22 years ago, I presented a paper on the likely impact of new techniques on TV viewers and broadcasters (which is reproduced here as a separate PDF file – click here). The concluding sentence of this paper – my "tongue-in-cheek" prediction – now comes home to haunt me.
The question which must now be raised is: "How much of the Huxlian fantasy has become reality?"
There is little doubt that, during the past twenty years, enormous strides have been made towards Huxley's vision of the media future. An acceleration in activity has been brought about in recent years by the adoption of digital technology. This is now an essential ingredient in technological progress, opening up new horizons that were previously thought to be unachievable. Digital techniques are now fundamental to all new systems in production, distribution and emission.
Before the end of this century, we will have a proliferation of digital delivery systems – by satellite, terrestrial transmitters and cable. Separately, the embryonic Information Superhighway will have begun to expand, bringing with it the possibility of hundreds of interactive services of all kinds, carried to each home on fibre-optic cable.
Broadcasters will not be confined to one particular means of delivery but will select according to their needs.
The great new sound of Digital Audio Broadcasting, delivering CD quality, will be commonplace in the home and in the automobile. In due time, High Definition Television on large flat-panel displays – driven by off-air signals, cable and digital video discs – will grace our living rooms. These startling pictures will be accompanied by multichannel sound.
These new developments, along with the ability to interact with the video and audio source, and the manipulative facilities provided by the computer, will bring the "all singing – all dancing" predictions closer to reality.
Perhaps if Aldous Huxley lived today, he might be predicting an even "Braver New World" in which the convergence of traditional information, telecommunications and computer technologies would play a central role.
George T. Waters
Director
EBU Technical Department
European Broadcasting Union
