Analog in a Digital World


In February, 2009. Analog Broadcast television, will cease to exist, and be replaced with digital transmissions. What that means for us, is? Those who have cable, will not be affected by the change over. Only those people who still have those ugly tall metal towers, and an analog television. Will have to upgrade, or get a converter box. People, who have a digital ready television, will receive, the digital signal with no problem. It would seem the days of analog technology are pretty much over, or will be very soon. Since the 1920’s, analog technology had rained supreme. Until in 1947, when the first transistor was introduced. Which became the starting point. Which would eventually, lead. To the digital revolution. The transistor helped to, not only shrink electronics, but start to make them smaller and faster. Then in 1971, Intel introduced the 4004 microprocessor. Which became, a building block for making computers smaller and faster. Then in 1980, the microchip was introduced, and made computers, and other electronic devices smaller and faster. By the mid 90’s, computers, had become not only smaller, and faster, but were being found in all sorts of devices. From cell phones, to PDA’s and even digital cameras. Even, television, was becoming digital. The days, of analog technology, were slowly disappearing. Even, television, is facing the same fate. As digital, is becoming the norm. Will radio, eventually face the same fate? Or has it started?

With, digital technology, taking over the world. You would have to wonder why some people would continue to use analog technology, and still produce analog devices? Analog, hasn’t really, left us entirely, and maybe it won’t. There are still some analog devices, in use. Such as the gauges in most cars, are still analog. Even some electronic instruments, are still being produced using analog technology. So maybe, analog isn’t dead just yet. Obviously , there is still, a need and a use for analog technology. Just because, the world, is going digital does not necessarily, mean that, everyone has too.