Just when world thought that it could not get any better than HDTV, there is a new technology
that is about to change the way humanity experiences home entertainment. Here is the 4K – the
current digital cinema format that offers four times the image quality of HDTV.
With most of the users having settled in with their 1080P televisions and are enjoying high
definition which is indeed much better than the old standard definition TV’s/VCR’s of 240/480i
resolution, television manufacturers will now bank on a better technology called 4K HDTV.
Since there is not enough content in 3D and people do not like wearing silly glasses for prolonged
periods, there has always been a scope for upgradation in the technology. With more than
four times the resolution of HD which translates to more pixels through a reproduction of better
contrast, 4K is ultimately a more immersive experience than anything possible before. Usually,
the closer user gets to a TV, the harder it is to see the detail but with these 4K prototypes it was
like looking at a printed photograph.
Television manufacturers, ever eager to shore up their business with new technology, are gearing
up to roll out sets with 4K screen resolution. The 4K HDTV prototypes from Sony, LG, and
Toshiba shown at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) this year revealed stunning images and
video that can be appreciated with the naked eye. Sharp had even an 8K HDTV prototype on
display at CES, a good sign that the 4K future and beyond is brighter and in clearly in focus.
4K TVs should start to hit store shelves in the United States by the end of 2012.While there has
been a number of precedent setting developments, none are likely to rival the entry of the 4K TV
technology in terms of superiority of features and performance.
Being the latest in a series of high definition standards, the 4K is primed to replace the 1080i/p
standard. It is so named from the fact that it offers a resolution of 4000 pixels horizontally while
its vertical resolution is around 2000 pixels. This makes it about the equivalent of 4 full HD 1080p
screens in terms of vertical and horizontal resolution.
With 8.3 million pixels versus the 2 million, 4K will create some of the most vibrant imagery ever.
If one had the chance to see Avatar in theaters, he probably would not be surprised to learn that
it was shot in 4K and displayed using 4K Sony Projectors. For the 2012 Olympic Summer Games
in London, 4KTVs will be globally unveiled in some key cities such as Washington DC to provide
live coverage of the games.
Having this many pixels means that there will not be the typical primary colored gaps that can
be viewed when standing close to a 1080p TV. 3D will become exponentially incredible as well.
4KTV will create the most immersive experience ever, as exhibited by its Avatar application. This
is not the only major upgrade bundled with the 4KTV as various companies aim to incorporate
other ease-of-use features such as voice recognition and gesture control similar to the Microsoft
Kinect.
Although electronics manufacturers have not yet settled on a standard, 4K resolutions generally
have at least 7 million pixels arranged across about 4000 columns and 2000 rows. All those extra
pixels allow 4K televisions to display images in much finer detail than HDTVs.
The development of the new standard was mainly for the big screen or cinema for the uninitiated.
It is roughly 4096×2160 pixels on the main as there is no definite standard pixel dimension. Some
screens are actually only 3840×2160 pixels, what is known otherwise as QFHD (Quad Full High
Definition) displays. The higher 4,000-plus pixel horizontal displays are the true 4K standards.
While the 1080p standard lead to a virtual revolution in the world of big screen movies, it is still
possible to see the actual pixels while sitting on the front row at the movie theater. This can be
quite distracting and many people find it as a definite turnoff. With that in mind, the new standard
was a necessity for the movie industry.
At a close viewing range, HD video on a big screen can look pixilated, and colors and images can
blur into the background. By contrast, 4K video looks super sharp. Home entertainment systems
just got a new shot in the arm with the arrival of 4K TV display technology. Although this has
been a huge success in the commercial movie industry, this is more than can be said of the home
entertainment.
Despite the buzz 4K has created, there are some concerns that need to be addressed. The new
TV’s will obviously be very expensive (as is all new technology), and users will need to go to a
fairly large screen to get the full benefit of this enhanced high definition display. The other thing
that likely will give consumers pause is the paucity of 4K content. Consumer have a hard enough
time finding 3D content to view, but they will have more difficulty finding anything at all in 4K.
It is indeed a very exciting time in terms of television technology. The sets and technology are
getting better with each generation and sets are now very much a major part of today’s modern
living. Manufacturers are getting much better at giving consumers what they want and new
features such as better dashboards and navigation menus combined with nice to have controls
such as gestures, voice control, and face recognition will soon become minimum standards for
most families. 4K being the newest kid on the block has also created much excitement but it is
still in its infancy. The success of the technology will actually be decided after it will be available
for the consumers later this year.
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