10 Big Tech Advances in Television

In the past 10 years or so, the shape of television has changed -- literally. Stocky, almost square screens are becoming the exception rather than the norm, and widescreen sets dominate the displays in electronics stores.

That's not the only big shift in recent television history. In the United States, broadcasters are changing from analog to digital signals, meaning that people who get their TV over the air have been shopping for converters to handle the new format.

But while the latest developments are impressive, some of TV's biggest innovations are more than 100 years old. The age of some technologies that seemed new just a few years ago may surprise you. Here, in chronological order, are 10 of the biggest technological advances to hit TV since its invention, starting with one that defined TV for almost a century.

More on How Tech Works from