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One area that seems to be starting to show signs of movement after years of stagnation is that of television receivers.

Ever since TV was introduced nearly half a century ago, we've relied on picture tubes to create the flickering image that so many people seem to be addicted to.

These tubes are really nothing more than giant thermionic valves like the ones that grandad used to have in his "radiogram" or kitchen radio.

It's rather odd therefore that even though we ditched thermionic valves for transistors and integrated circuits many years ago, the cathode ray tube (CRT) has remained the most cost-effective display system.

But things are gradually changing and there's a new kid on the block which looks set to perhaps knock the CRT off its perch.

Yes, just as the flat-screen LCD display is gradually pushing the CRT-based computer monitor off our desks, LCD technology is now making inroads into the colour TV marketplace.

Last time I was browsing around a computer store I noticed that several of the flat-panel LCD computer screens also had the ability to function as a stand-alone TV set. Now that's very cool and quite sensible.

The cost of the electronics to provide the tuner function needed to convert an LCD display into a TV is pretty trivial so why not include it for a few extra dollars.

Since watching TV and using your computer are generally mutually exclusive activities, being able to switch your 17" LCD display to TV mode when you log-off may be very convenient.

Plus, you get the advantage that your average LCD display has a much higher resolution than those cheap CRT-based TV sets so the picture looks a million times better.

I find it somewhat amusing that 25 years ago we were using TV sets as lousy computer monitors, and now, quarter of a century later, we're using computer monitors as high-quality TV sets.

So what's next?

Will low-cost LCD-based flat-screen TVs start challenging those large and very expensive plasma screen TVs we'd all love to own?

Or are LCDs just an interim step? Will OLEDs soon become a commercial reality and become the display technology de jour?

What exactly will you be staring at all day and most of the evening in just five year's time?

If any Aardvark readers want to share an opinion on today's column or add something, you're invited to chip in and have your say in The Aardvark Forums or, if you prefer, you can contact me directly.

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