The change from analogue to digital was a difficult transition for some elderly people and brought with it a heap of confusion about what the technology is all about and what it would mean in real terms.

The reason for the change was all about quality of vision and sound. Analogue is everything that we see and hear; digital selects zero and one and discards everything else which includes any static or white noise. The signals we used to receive for many years were analogue.

When the signal was eventually digitalised, many individuals wanted a new digital television, digital aerials and digital satellite receivers to make full use of the higher quality of sound and vision.Firms such as Smart Digital take away the uncomfortable and complex problems, creating flexible sound and visual systems for us.These systems will work around cable, Freeview, BBC freesat and satellite to maximise the digital experience throughout our home.

The other huge benefit of digital television is that, like your computer, it can make watching television interactive. Already there is iPlayer and other options where archived recordings can be watched at a time suitable to you. Other benefits are split screens, television guides and pressing the red button to vote on your favourite reality show. Digitalisation creates a flexibility for us to watch what we want when we want and digital television, aerials and receivers exploit the new medium to the full.