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Show Video technology opens new entertainment field By Cindy Robertson Video recorders and computerized TV games added an exciting dimension to the television set a few years ago, and the television will be playing an even bigger role in people's lives as technology advances. The new developments, many available locally, include portable video camera recorders, video disks (record players that show full length movies or other pictures), wide screen projection television, advanced video games, and small home computers. Video recorders have seen many improvements since they were first introduced. Playing time increased, and now there are lightweight, portable versions. The playback section next to the television weighs about nine pounds, the camera only four pounds. The family can watch themselves on TV while they are being filmed, just like in a TV studio, or they can take the camera with them to film in other rooms or outdoors. Some recorders have a 14-day programmable feature that allows for the taping of various shows on different stations while the family is away. The latest development in video electronics is video disks. Drop a disk that looks like a rainbow-flecked platinum record album into a needleless record player, push a button, but-ton, and suddenly a full length feature movie like "Jaws" or "Coal Miner's Daughter" appears on the TV. The audio part can be played through the viewer's stereo system for high quality sound. A low powered laser reads billions of microscopic indentations etched beneath the surface of the record; the signals are then translated into the sights and sounds of a movie. No needle touches the disk, and an acrylic coating protects it from dust and fingerprints; so, unlike conventional con-ventional phonograph records, there is virtually no wear on the disk. The picture can be moved forward or backward, and frozen on a single frame. Some systems have a built-in microcomputer that can assign numbers to each frame of the record. If a viewer wants to see a certain frame again, he merely punches in the number. The laser can find the frame and display it on the screen in about 15 seconds. The disks have a 40 percent clearer picture than video tapes. A disk movie is about one third the cost of a taped movie, because the disks are cheaper to manufacture. A feature film costs about the same as taking five people to the movies twice. Documentaries and how-to records cost even less than half that amount. A large number of features and movies are available, and more are rapidly being added. Besides modern movies, one can choose old favorites such as the Marx brother's "Animal Crackers" or the original "Frankenstein." Children can watch Walt Disney features. Sports lovers can choose from an Ali fight to football films, or learn how to play tennis and golf. There are television moves, Jacques Cousteau documentaries, documen-taries, Julia Child cooking lessons, and educational programs like learning CPR rescue techniques. When seeing singing stars in concert on a video disk, the view can skip over - songs he doesn't care for, and repeat his favorites. Some industries and businesses have already shown interest in the system for their training and safety films, because they can show important sections repeatedly and freeze them at will without damaging the disk. The video disk playing machines were perfected five years ago, but the records weren't ready until last year. At first the system was only available for sale in certain key cities, such as Atlanta, Georgia. They can now be purchased in our area, but are still unavailable in many regions. As for wide screen projection television, the concept is not new. but there were problems in earlier models with clarity. The room also had to be darkened. and the viewer had to sit in a certain position to see properly. Now a model is available with a six and one half foot screen and a 25 percent brighter picture. pic-ture. Viewers' can sit anywhere in the average living room without loss of picture quality. Also new in the television electronics market are more sophisticated video games. The game formats are more challenging, and the pictures are more realistic in appearance and movement. These new products are just a beginning. For example, in about six to twelve months, residents will probablv be able to buy home computers locallv. Television is a changing medium, and future innovations will further expand its usefulness. |