The Benefits versus The Dangers Of Television

Any man-made invention is always accompanied by good and bad points. The most popular mode of convenience is the motor car but today the motor car is a great contributor to atmospheric pollution. Even antibiotics which were hailed as miracle drugs are not entirely free from bad side effects. The discovery of ‘N’ energy has left the world on the brink of a nuclear disaster and certain annihilation. So too, the invention of Television.

Television was invented following the principle of the movie and the radio. In movies, one sees a picture and hears the sound when the film is projected with the help of a projector. The film will have to be made beforehand. In the case of a Radio broadcast, one hears the sound alone. In combining the effect of the two the television has practically brought the world to one’s drawing-room. It is no exaggeration. When the 25th Olympics was being conducted in Barcelona one could see the colorful events on his television set. The lively actuality of the scenes and sound makes the television very welcome.

There are many kinds of programs one can enjoy seeing on television. It may be a live telecast of great events of the world, a cricket match between the West Indies and England, a football match between two internationally famous teams, a boxing match, or a chess match between two stalwarts of the game.

Many political events may be telecast like the party conventions in the USA. to select its candidate for the future President. Events like the opening of Parliament or the last march for a great national leader. In many of these things, the television easily and effectively displaces the morning newspapers and it is more effective than written words. It is both visual and aural and creates a greater impact on the minds of viewers.

Hence the worth of television as an emotional toll has been high. With pre-planning lessons could be broadcast effectively. It is useful for teachers because it can help them in the reorientation and furthering of

children’s knowledge. Many subjects could be made more lively with a natural effect. It is a boon to the medical student because he views intricate surgery with the help of television. As entertainment it is excellent.

But television has also its disadvantages. Unless the light effect is the incorrect frequency it will affect the eye of the viewer. The television program has fixed hours and one has to tailor time to it. There is also no free choice of programs because channels are limited.

Certain programs may have a corrupting influence on young minds. Cartoons that are telecast have cruelty as a theme and is a bad influence on young minds. There have been instances where youngsters have shot their teachers or parents. Television has reduced the influence of discipline in the classroom.

It is quite likely that the happy relationship between the members of the family is likely to be corroded. However, when the history of inventions of this century is written, certainly television shall find a prominent place there along with the X-Ray, nuclear bombs, and space flights.