Pining for the days of static and snow
I was watching a show the other day in which a high-definition TV lost its signal and presented the classic and universally known black and white snow. Of course, anyone who has made the digital TV transition knows that this doesn’t happen anymore. Generally you get Black, Blue or, sometimes, a message on the screen.
So this got me thinking that static snow’s days are numbered. Static snow has become, over the years, an instantly recognizable indication that there’s a glitch in the system, but has the advantage of letting you know so much else – like the fact that the power is on and the picture tube is working. Things that a non-standard indicator (the varying black, blue, or message) is not going to universally convey.
Have we taken a step back in usability?
What happens when all our radio becomes digital and, flipping though the dial (uh, dial?) you get nothing but silence? Is it your stereo? Antenna? Speakers?