Funeral for Analog TV - Paul Saffo

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/02/17/Bruce_Sterling_and_Paul_Saffo_Funeral_for_Analog_TV

Technologist Paul Saffo examines the history of analog television, as a part of the Long Now Foundation's "Funeral for Analog TV."

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Join author Bruce Sterling, technology pundit Paul Saffo, and other special guests on the UC Berkeley campus to mourn the loss of our long time acquaintance, the Analog Television Signal.

Born in the 1920's in San Francisco, the signal has been an integral part of all our lives, bringing us news of the rich, the famous, the politicians, the wars, the Apollo landings, the thrills of victory, and the agonies of defeat.

While Analog Television has not been a good friend to us all, it has been important to each and every one of us. Analog Television is survived by its wife Digital Television, and its second cousin Internet Television.

Paul Saffo is a forecaster and strategist with over two decades experience exploring long-term technological change and its practical impact on business and society. Saffo is Chairman of the Samsung Science Board, and serves on a variety of other boards and advisory panels, including the Stanford Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Society, and the Long Now Foundation, as well as the boards of several public and pre-public companies located the United States and abroad. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and has served as an advisor and Forum Fellow to the World Economic Forum, which in the late 1990s named Saffo one of its "100 Global Leaders For Tomorrow." Saffo's essays have appeared in numerous publications, including Business 2.0, Fortune, The Harvard Business Review, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, The New York Times and the Washington Post and Wired. Saffo holds degrees from Harvard College, Cambridge University, and Stanford University. IFTF is a 30-year old foundation that provides strategic planning and forecasting services to major corporations and government agencies. Saffo currently serves on the Board of the Institute for the Future and the Long Now Foundation. He is also the Chairman of Samsung Science Advisory Board.

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[mdelcamp1]

I live in the U.S. State of New Hampshire, and to save $300,000, this State's Public Television Station ceased to broadcast their analog television signals a month ago. Now, although I have the "Digital Converter Box" and live in Manchester, this State's largest city, I cannot receive this area's public television station's digital transmission signals. Think they are getting any donations from me now, or in the future? Think again.

[flyby7a]

the other day, i counted 8 LOUSY COMMERCIALS IN BETWEEN THE SHOW.. EIGHTTTTTTTTTTTT COMMERCIALS.. TELEVISION SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[marksnoise]

We bagetelliseren onze eigen intelligentie, en onderschatten alien intelligence door neerbuigend te spreken over onze cultuurgeladen signalen in outer space.

[Donkeymadlad]

The other thing that worth mentioning which really highlights another culture difference is that TV is free in America. In the UK you have to pay around £150 for a TV license but then to get anything decent you really need cable (Virgin Media)  or satellite (Sky TV) which would be another £60 - £70 a month. - Basically you have to pay an aim and a leg to watch TV in the UK, it's extremely expensive

[Donkeymadlad]

The TV really does show the differences in culture from America and the UK and maybe Europe. Because America is so big TV plays an important role because it connects people and it's good that TV is free. In America the anologue switch over seems to be a huge deal with channels and networks celebrating before the switchover. In the UK there was no such celebration the switchover just happen during normal programming. It wasn't considered a massive deal as it is in America.

[t0xictreasure]

commercial fucks up the videoplayer

[1337BananaL33TVostok]

i wish analog tv comes back.. moving my antenna around with buzzing noises and screen rolling up and down.. its a big part of the charm.. fuck my goverment anyways..

[UTAOUB]

Call me paranoid if you wish -- but I can't decide whether Digital TV has come in, and analogue gone out......because 1) So that the government can watch everything we're doing, (there's a little red light that's ALWAYS on on my TV), or 2) So the goverment can use all the old digital channels for secret messages? To my mind, people should have a CHOICE.....digital and/or analogue. I shudder to think when "Super-Digital" may come. Remember WillRogers: "Congress-people are OUR HIRED HELP!"

[MSavage59]

Bring back analog TV they switched it to digital to rip people off

[companiontwo]

Why did we need to make analog (illegal)??? this is one of the scariest things I have ever heard of in the USA. But don't worry kids, all will be as it should. The mainstream claim (story told to the fat & happy public) was that they "all of a sudden" need the old style analog signals for "emergency or official" use- C'Mon!! are you kidding me? if this technology is so old and useless why on Earth are the top "?" agencies charged with the protection of the public using it?

[justinruebensaal]

i love digital tv beter than analog