TV-makers respond to emergence of mobile

Not only are mobile devices like smartphones and tablet computers disrupting people's computing habits, they're also stealing away from what would otherwise be time to sit in front of the tube. However, TV manufacturers aren't taking this lightly and, according to the Associated Press, have plans in the works to boost TV sales.

The news provider notes that more people are turning to their tablets and smartphones, which, unlike most TV sets, are able to stream live shows and videos. While the mobile devices may not pack as much of a punch picture- and sound-wise, their general convenience and multi-functionality mean people are no longer just watching TV in the living room.

To counter this, TV-makers are employing a simple tactic - make TVs thinner and clearer. With the advent of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology, manufacturers are looking to make television sets that are "wafer-thin" and produce a picture better than any consumer TV currently on the market, the AP says.

TV manufacturers do have a long road ahead of them, however. These OLED TVs will cost a pretty penny, and there's no guarantee that people even want to go back to watching TV the traditional way.

On the other hand, many people prefer to use their TVs and mobile devices in conjunction with one another. As an April 2012 Nielsen study shows, tablet use spikes when the television is on, with 88 percent of US tablet owners admitting they use their mobile devices when watching TV.