Video Recorder — Questions and answers

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What big problem did TV networks have before the mid-1950s?

Choices

  1. They had too many shows to broadcast.
  2. They couldn't record TV shows for later viewing. ✓
  3. Their TV shows were boring.
  4. They didn't have enough TV channels.

Answer: They couldn't record TV shows for later viewing.

From page 1

Before video recorders, what was the tricky way broadcasters tried to save TV shows?

Choices

  1. They drew pictures of the shows by hand.
  2. They asked people to remember what they saw.
  3. They used kinescope recording, aiming a camera at a TV screen. ✓
  4. They wrote down the script of every show.

Answer: They used kinescope recording, aiming a camera at a TV screen.

From page 2

What new and clever idea did the Ampex team have when trying to record video?

Choices

  1. To make the tape much wider.
  2. To record audio signals instead.
  3. To move the recording head instead of speeding up the tape. ✓
  4. To use paper instead of magnetic tape.

Answer: To move the recording head instead of speeding up the tape.

From page 5

What clever technique did Ampex engineers use to make the video signal clear and strong, even with tape issues?

Choices

  1. Rewinding the tape very often.
  2. Coloring the video signal.
  3. Using frequency modulation (FM). ✓
  4. Making the tape glow in the dark.

Answer: Using frequency modulation (FM).

From page 7

What happened when the Ampex VR-1000 was shown for the first time in 1956?

Choices

  1. Everyone was confused and left the room.
  2. It broke down and didn't work.
  3. People were stunned by its clear picture and gave thunderous applause. ✓
  4. It only played audio, not video.

Answer: People were stunned by its clear picture and gave thunderous applause.

From page 8

How did the new video recorder help TV networks around the world?

Choices

  1. It made TV shows shorter.
  2. It allowed shows to be delayed for different time zones and archived. ✓
  3. It made TV sets bigger.
  4. It caused TV shows to vanish forever.

Answer: It allowed shows to be delayed for different time zones and archived.

From page 9

What big change did the invention of the video recorder bring to homes?

Choices

  1. It made TVs much smaller.
  2. It allowed people to record shows and watch them later at home. ✓
  3. It made TV shows more expensive.
  4. It helped people learn how to fix TVs.

Answer: It allowed people to record shows and watch them later at home.

From page 10