What is LCD TV?

LCD stands for Liquid-crystal display and it refers to a display technology involving television sets.  LCD TVs are associated with display screens that are flat rather than “curved”.  Curved displays are features of older television technology called CRT’s or cathode-ray tubes.  CRT-based television sets are obviously bulkier and heavier owing to the actual “tube” on the TV set itself.  But with LCD TV, the screen is much flatter with the screen able to become wider.  And since LCD TV involves newer technology, picture quality has also improved making colors appear more vivid and brighter.

LCD TV technology basically involves 2 panels of transparent material that are both polarized and connected together.  And as the name suggests, “liquid crystals” are part of the polymer coating on one of the layers or panels.  And when electric current is introduced into this panel, the liquid crystal components will allow or block the light to create the image display on the screen.  But the light source does not come from the crystals themselves and is instead provided by fluorescent lamps which are arranged in series at the back of the screen.  The use of these fluorescent lamps involves no phosphors in the system, which is a common feature of older television sets based on the CRT technology.  And since no phosphors are lighted to create an image on the screen, less energy is needed to provide the light source.  This also translates to less heat generated when a particular image is displayed.  With less energy and heat needed, LCD television sets provide economy in terms of power consumption.  They are also considered more environment-friendly than older CRT television sets.  LCD technology also results to zero radiation emitted from the actual TV screens, which further adds to its appeal to would-be buyers.

Today, most television sets are made using LCD technology and these TVs are usually marketed as newer and better choices in terms of power consumption and display quality.  LCD TVs have also surpassed the sales of CRT TV sets around the globe since it was introduced.