John Logie Baird and the Television

John Logie Baird and His Miraculous Television Advancement

Born and raised in Scotland, John Logie Baird received a science degree and took an engineering job. At twenty-six years old Baird decided he didn’t like his job, so he quit and decided to become an inventor. He spent nearly ten years producing failed inventions then he put full thought into television development. By the end of 1923 John Logie Baird, through sheer determination, had finally managed to build what were effectively the world's first complete television transmitter and receiver. The first image that was transmitted was a plain cardboard cross, the camera and transmitter being just a few feet away on the other side of the room. Public interest grew greatly in January 1924 when Baird's success was reported on by the Daily News. But because Baird had electrocuted himself twice and caused a small explosion during this process, Mr. Twigg, the landlord, evicted John Baird at this time.

John Baird moved to London in August of 1924 and then in April of 1925 he showed his Televisor at Selfridge's Department store. Viewers gathered in a small dark room, to strain their eyes and see a flickering, but nonetheless miraculous image of a doll on a screen of about four by two inches. Though not much more than the shadow of the doll, the image represented a significant achievement. This was the first time a picture had been created from reflected light. "The image of the doll's head formed itself on the screen with what appeared to be an almost unbelievable clarity. I had got it! I could scarcely believe my eyes and felt myself shaking with excitement," said John Baird.

In October 1925 Baird succeeded in transmitting full television images. These were real television pictures which picked up reflected light and showed light and shade effects. The first human being to be televised was a frightened teenage office boy, William Taynton, who had to be bribed to stay under the hot lights.

At that time there were no moving images. Baird's scanning discs and photo electronics were to slow and insensitive to capture moving objects. But now that has all changed now that he got upgrades. This year on January 26, 1926 Baird showed a fully working prototype of mechanical television to members of the Royal Institution.