散文:電視
Television ―― the most pervasive and persuasive of modern technologies，marked by rapid change and growth ―― is moving into a new era， an era of extraordinary sophistication and versatility， which promises to reshape our lives and our world. It is an electronic revolution of sorts， made possible by the marriage of television and computer technologies.
The word "television"， derived from its Greek （tele： distant） and Latin（visio： sight） roots， can literally be interpreted as sight from a distance. Very simply put， it works in this way： through a sophisticated system of electronics， television provides the capability of converting an image（focused on a special photoconductive plate within a camera） into electronic impulses， which can be sent through a wire or cable. These impulses， when fed into a receiver （television set）， can then be electronically reconstituted into that same image.
Television is more than just an electronic system， however. It is a means of expression， as well as a vehicle for communication， and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings. The field of television can be divided into two categories determined by its means of transmission. First， there is broadcast television， which reaches the masses through broad-based airwave transmission of television signals. Second， there is nonbroadcast television， which provides for the needs of individuals or specific interest groups through controlled transmission techniques.
Traditionally， television has been a medium of the masses. We are most familiar with broadcast television because it has been with us for about thirty-seven years in a form similar to what exists today. During those years， it has been controlled， for the most part， by the broadcast networks， ABC， NBC， and CBS， who have been the major purveyors of news，information， and entertainment. These giants of broadcasting have actually shaped not only television but our perception of it as well. We have come to look upon the picture tube as a source of entertainment， placing our role in this dynamic medium as the passive viewer.
電視
電視――以快速變化與發展為標志的最普遍、最具有影響力的一項現代技術，正在步入一個極端復雜化與多樣化的新時代。
這個時代承諾重新塑造我們的生活和我們的世界。這可以稱得上是又一次電子革命，其關鍵在于電視技術與計算機技術的結合。"電視"這個詞來源于希臘語詞根（tele：遠）和拉丁語詞根（vision：景象），可以從字面上理解為來自遠處的景象。
簡單說來，電視是以這種方式工作的，通過一個復雜的電子系統，電視能夠將一幅圖像（這幅圖像被聚焦在一部攝像機內的一塊特殊的光導底片上）轉換成能經過導線或電纜發送出去的電子脈沖信號。
當這些電子脈沖信號被輸入一部接收機（電視機）時，就可以用電子學的方法把脈沖信號重新恢復成同一幅圖像。但是，電視不僅僅是一個電子系統，它還是一種表達工具和傳播渠道。因此，電視成了一個對其他人發生影響的強大工具。電視這個領域可以根據其發射方式分為兩類。
第一類為廣播電視，通過電視信號的寬帶無線電波發射展現在大眾面前；第二類為非廣播電視，使用受控的發射技術來滿足個人以及某些特殊利益群體的需要。電視早已成為大眾媒介。我們熟悉廣播電視，因為廣播電視已經以類似目前的方式存在了大約37年。
在那些年頭中，電視絕大部分一直由ABC、NBC、CBS這些廣播電視公司控制著，這些廣播電視公司一直是新聞、信息和娛樂的主要提供者。這些廣播業的巨頭實際上不僅塑造了電視，而且也塑造了我們對電視的理解。我們漸漸把顯像管看作是娛樂的來源，讓自己成為這個生動的媒介的被動觀眾。
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