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Can We Do Without Television?
In most homes today, we can expect to find at least one television set. Some of
the more affluent homes have more than one. A television set is no longer
considered a luxury, as it has become a part of modern living.
The benefits of television are manifold. As a means of communication,
there is virtually nothing to match it. We can watch a football match
thousands of miles away with a mere flick of a switch, in full colour and with
high fidelity sound. News that would have taken months to travel from one
place to another now takes just a fraction of a second to reach in its original
state, minus the factor of distorting human messengers. The impact of this
improved communication on our lives is indeed great. We are not only better
informed of current events all over the world but we are also exposed to a
multitude of different cultures and ways of life. Never before did we have to
face such a huge onslaught of information. In this context, when used with
discretion, television can provide us with much knowledge, but when used
carelessly, it can reduce us to non-thinking entities.
Television is the cheapest form of leisure and it provides a great variety of
entertainment. It brings hours of suspense, laughter and thrills into our living
rooms. With the development of video equipment, the range of programs
available is indeed wide. It is able to provide fun and entertainment to the
young and old alike. On the whole, the usefulness of television as a source of
entertainment and recreation is undoubted. The danger lies only in the
possibility of addiction to watching too much television. We do have television
addicts who do virtually nothing but watch television all day long. The
prolonged watching does not do any good to the couch potatoes, as these
addicts are called. Their vision can deteriorate and furthermore, it is a sheer
waste of time.
Via television, manufacturers are able to reach out to consumers more
effectively. The advertisements on television serve to inform consumers about
new products. However, nowadays we are literally overwhelmed by scores of
advertisements all pushing to sell their products. A couple of adverts in
between programs are welcome breaks, but to watch clip after clip for more
than five minutes at a stretch is just too much. Likewise, an advertisement
clip coming right in the middle of a program can be very irritating as it
interrupts the continuity of the program.
Television is also an invaluable educational tool. It enables education
planners to co-ordinate and inform students about the requirements of various
subjects.
From a security point of view, the television set can be used as a
surveillance tool and an `eye' in inaccessible places. Banks and other large
commercial centers use close circuit television to maintain security. In deep-
sea explorations, television is used to reach places no man can reach.
The television is part and parcel of our lives and it is here to stay, whether
we like it or not. How we make use of this wonderful invention is entirely up to
us. Used with care, it is a boon to humankind. Used carelessly, it can be a curse
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