Top teletext - current projects of the teletext decoders

In recent years, thanks to the industry of television sets, the selection of teletext pages has been improved. This is possible due to the introduction of multi-page decoders that can memorize from eight up to several hundred pages.

For example, with the decoder project of a certain manufacturer, in addition to the last selected page number the following page numbers can also be selected. Example: the user types the number 410, and the decoder also selects the pages from number 411 to number 417. The page selected by the user is immediately visualized on the screen. The other pages (if available in the cycle) are stored in the intermediate memory. These pages stored in the intermediate memory can be selected one after the other, by way of a special function key. Thanks to this provident memorization, by operating a simple key, in many cases the successive pages can be visualized without any waiting time.

Apart from the concept described above, alternative procedures have been introduced. In one procedure, the user has the possibility to insert into the memory up to 8 page numbers for every program. These 8 pages (if present in the cycle) are always available for the user in every program change, without requiring a new selection. In both these types of multiple page decoder, there is the disadvantage that pages not available in the teletext cycle can eventually be selected.

The wide diffusion of electronic programs and the Internet have accustomed users to an high degree of navigability, that facilitates the retrieval of desired information in the great mass of that available; it was necessary, therefore, to assure the same ease of use of the teletext system to the great number of people that use it as convenient and immediate news source. Also the improvements introduced by the manufacturers constitute a palliative regarding the increased requirements of the public; in simple terms it was necessary to maintain the teletext service up to date.