A signal from the future

This time next year we'll be saying a farewell to the old analog television technology. All television stations are being required by the Federal Communications Commission to switch to digital programming. The change already is underway.

Without getting too scientific, think of the analog-digital improvement as record album versus compact disc, rotary phone versus cellular, typewriter versus computer.

Most homes already receive digital broadcasts if they have cable or satellite, but there are a few holdouts who still rely on "rabbit ears" or roof-top antennas to receive their analog signal.

The FCC will facilitate the changeover by issuing vouchers that can be used to buy special analog converter boxes. While the boxes will allow the old analog televisions to remain in service, it's doubtful there are many people who still own, much less use, the outdated sets.

Anybody remember the days of switching your television dial manually? Or using a public phone booth? Or sticking in an eighttrack tape and listening to two songs at once? (This was known as "double-tracking" for those of you too young to remember.) And how about playing your vinyl records on high volume and accidentally bumping the stylus, which resulted in an ear-splitting screeeech that caused humans and animals to run for cover.

If you had a top-loading VCR, you were part of the video vanguard.

If your radio- excuse me, your "tuner"- had FM stereo, you were really king.

We joke, but the move to all-digital television is important. It will free up valuable radio waves, some of which will be allocated to improve radio communications among police and firefighters. The digital signal is also needed for high-definition television.

Who knows what changes the next 100 years will bring, but it's funny how some technologies stand the test of time, like photographic film. Digital cameras are nice, but they're not everything. And not everyone needs a GPS. Printed maps work just fine. Same with analog versus digital clocks.

There's also that old slide rule you can still use if you happen to misplace your calculator. And what works better than a trusty compass?

The best advice is to embrace the new technology but not let it control your world.