TV Test Pillow

Designed by Henriette Hyldgaard, this pillow shows a Philips PM5544 test card and costs $40-ish.

FULL DISCLOSURE: THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH THE CORRECT EDITION OF THE TEST CARD.

Product Page [Funktionalley via Funfurde]

1. [toresbe]

   That is actually the PM5644, the widescreen-updated version of the PM5544.

   The test card is used currently on Swedish SVT2, after the closedown there.

   Test cards before this one were not electronically generated per se, nor were they usually generated by pointing a camera at a card, they were scanned by way of a monoscope; a camera pickup tube which scanned a grille of data.

   See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoscope

2. [Anonymous]

   Ahh that brings back memories of waiting for the TV to start. Recognize that from Australia in the 80′s (and probably 90′s). Though it’s sadly missing today.

3. [Anonymous]

   What, no FUBK version?

4. [Anonymous]

   It’s still used in Australia although test pattern is never usually scheduled.

5. [vjinterkosmos]

   Finnish national broadcaster YLE offers a PM5544 screensaver (alas for win32 only) at their website (Finnish only: “Näytönsäästäjät:” -> first link on the page).

6. [larsrc]

   Feh. Printed. An embroidery shop downtown (Ã…rhus, Denmark) has the same idea, but embroidered.

7. [Trilby]

   If it was, say, Test Card J, with the clown and the little girl, then maybe.

8. [Alex_M]

   That’s the Philips PM5544 test card. Used by a lot more than just the BBC. Swedish public television (SVT) has used it for a long time.

9. [djn]

   Ah, that’s the only one I’ve seen live – both norwegian and swedish television use it exclusively and have done so since I started noticing.

   Philips PM5544, I believe.

10. [dainel]

    That test card is being used today. In Malaysia.

11. [Keir]

    I think it was the first, or one of the first, testcards that were electronically generated, rather being on an actual card with a camera pointed at it.

12. [benkruisdijk]

    still like the work of European artist Conny Kuilboer (as was posted here: http://gadgets.boingboing.net/art/2008/08/24-week/ ) better.

    but perhaps that’s because I know here (and she made them a couple of years ago).

    Ben

13. [artichoke abattoir]

    It was used in Poland as well – I remember staring at it as a kid. It was more hypnotic than a Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka.

    To be honest this test card was more interesting and inspiring for me back then than most of the tv shows now.

14. [Rob Beschizza]

    Larsrc, GET PHOTOS!