A Signal Effort by the SMPTE: Ancillary Signals in Television Broadcasting

Members of the Society may sometimes feel and, indeed, some have stated that few controversial issues appear in our Journal. If this is taken to mean espousing dramatic causes for sensational impact we must plead guilty. The society in which we live provides many other forums for such presentations. The clear responsibility of the scientist, engineer and technician is to define problems in tangible terms; to consider their effect on the objective criteria which define the acceptable limits of their specific disciplines and to make every effort to insure that their responsibility to maintain technical integrity in the public interest is exercised. In the cool and objective language of technology and the extended time base over which some questioned proposal or practice is debated the casual reader may fail to sense the conviction and dedication of those who seek to maintain the collective mandate of this Society in such situations. — In this and the next two issues of the Journal, you will have an opportunity to read the case history of one such proposal related to the insertion of ancillary data within the television program signal. In this particular debate the SMPTE has been concerned solely with the principle involved and its effect on image quality. Further, we respect and support the rights of those who propose changes. No meaningful progress can be achieved in our technology if principles are never challenged. — Past-President Wilton R. Holm will act as the historian for this series. We are particularly indebted to him, to Engineering Vice-President William T. Wintringham and the members of the Ad Hoc Committee for Coded Patterns as well as many other contributing members of the Society who combined their interdisciplinary talents so effectively in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.