The Significance of the Vacuum Tube

In today's society, access to radio, television, and computers is everywhere. It is so incorporated in our everyday lives that we hardly think twice about it. Funnily enough, if it hadn't been for the invention of one little but powerful mechanism, that technology would not be where it is today. As impressive as it was when it was first introduced, the vacuum tube is what really took technology to new heights. In the case of the radio, the vacuum tube is what gave it its original capability. When it was first developed, radio did not have a very long range at all and was not very amplified. It also had a weak signal. The invention of the vacuum tube, however, allowed for every aspect of the radio to be better. The range became longer, amplification became easier to manage, and the signal was ultimately strengthened. The vacuum tube also helped to change the current in radio from an alternating current to a direct current. Radio was able to reach more corners of the globe because of this. In the case of television and computers, the cathode ray tube was what gave both their original power. With the tube TV could display better pictures and the resolution could be much higher. Colors and tones were also of much better quality even despite the fact television was only seen in black and white for many years. For early computers, the tube is what gave them their ability to send and receive signals and record and display data through the use of an oscilloscope. Without the invention of the tube, none of this would have been possible and technology may not be where it is today. Even though it is one small device, it certainly had the power to create change and jumpstart a new era of technology.