Teletext is a service that provides information via a television signal. The spelling of the word "teletext" can be explained through its phonetic transcription in IPA, which is /ˈtɛlətɛkst/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "e" sound, while the second syllable has a schwa sound. The final two syllables are pronounced with a hard "k" sound followed by a "st" sound. The word "teletext" is spelled exactly how it sounds when pronounced in IPA.
Teletext is a text-based information retrieval and display system that was widely used before the rise of the internet and digital media. It involves the transmission of information through broadcast television signals, allowing viewers to access various types of content on their television screens.
In teletext, text-based pages are organized into different categories, often referred to as "pages." These pages can contain a wide range of information, such as news articles, weather updates, sports scores, stock market data, and television schedules. Users can navigate through these pages by entering specific page numbers or using a remote control with dedicated teletext buttons.
The information on teletext is transmitted in a compressed format, known as the World System Teletext (WST). This compression ensures efficient data transmission and allows for multiple pages to be transmitted simultaneously. However, teletext can only display a limited amount of text at a time, typically up to 40 rows of 24 characters each.
Teletext was first introduced in the 1970s and gained significant popularity in the following decades. It provided a convenient and accessible way for viewers to obtain up-to-date information without needing a separate device. However, with the advent of the internet and digital television technologies, teletext has become less prominent and is now seldom used.
The word "teletext" is derived from the combination of "tele" and "text".
- "Tele" is derived from the Greek word "tele", meaning "far off" or "distant", and it is commonly used as a prefix in words related to telecommunications and distance communication. In this case, it refers to the transmission of text or information from a distance.
- "Text" is derived from the Latin word "textus", meaning "woven" or "fabric". It refers to written or printed words, typically organized in a coherent manner.
When combined, "teletext" represents the dissemination of written information or text over a distance, often through broadcast television signals. Teletext systems were widely used in the past to deliver news, weather updates, sports scores, and other textual information to television viewers.