IS HD Really The Clear Choice?

          One trending topic in the controversies surrounding our technologically engaged society is Television. What started out as a small box playing white and black pictures, has transformed into a screen projecting color, clarity, and moving images. Over the years, TVs have grown tremendously and consumers are now presented with a plethora of models to choose from. Popular now is the ever-growing HDTV, which has been proven to display clearer and sharper imagery. Although this phenomenon has clearly shaken up the television market, some buyers still have trouble parting from their standard definition television sets. They just aren’t sold on the idea of paying a significant amount more, just for a “better” picture. Exploring the true differences between Standard Definition Television (SDTV) and High Definition Television (HDTV) may help to clear up some of the confusion and doubt.

Televisions are compared by the amount of pixels that their screens contain. Pixels, defined as tiny dots that are constantly changing in color, combine to form the images that consumers see on the screen. Each television screen contains thousands of these microscopic squares. The phrases “standard definition” and “high definition” simply refer to the number of pixels present and how they are projected on to the screen.

Standard definition televisions can contain a maximum of 480i, which, when simply put, means that it contains 480 horizontal lines made up of pixels. The “i” is short for interlaced, which describes the action of the pixel. Interlaced pixels quickly switch back and forth between one half of a pixel line to another. Because they are so minute, the image seen on screen seems to be full and whole. In actuality, these interlaced pixels create a flicker effect, which is sometimes noticed in older TV models. As time passes and technology progresses, 480i is being considered low quality television. Even so, many consumers continue to be avid buyers and watchers of SDTV. I would assume that that is due in large part to comfort, fear of change, and lower prices.

High definition televisions can contain a maximum of 1080p, which is more than twice the amount of horizontal pixels lines than SDTV. There also vertical lines that are distributed across the screen. The “p” means progressive, which indicates that the pixel lines are all broadcasted simultaneously. This prevents the screen from having anything resembling a flicker. The increased pixel count in HDTVs creates a high resolution, which in turn gives off a life-like image that is clearer and sharper.

The difference is clear

This enhanced image is in large part related to the signal. SD televisions contains waves that are similar to that of analog signals, in the sense that they occupy the entire screen. HD televisions use digital signals, which have been proven to be more effective at coding data than traditional analog-like signals. Instead of filling up the entire screen, HDTVs compress the picture on the screen and create a movie-theater-like effect. This difference in shape may cause a SDTV user to think that the HDTV is distorted. In reality, the image just looks different because of its shape.

Before shopping for next TV, whether Standard or HD, there are some important things to note. First, screen size and pixel count are not at all related. A bigger TV will not produce a better resolution. Resolution is an aspect of the television that deals solely with technology. That is why larger SDTVs still do not have as clear of an image as smaller HDTVs. In addition, HDTVs can only work properly when broadcast by corresponding channels. If a channel is not being broadcast in HD, the picture will appear in SD, even on an HD television. The channels and the TV must go hand in hand to work effectively. The drawbacks are the extra fees associated with HD channels and the fact that there is still only a handful available. That should change as the HD market continues to boom. It is only a matter of time before HD is most basic type of TV offered. I predict that it will follow the same pattern as the recent mandating of cable television for all TV viewers.