| HDTV is a vastly improved method of broadcasting | | | | on the fact that the most basic of computer displays |
| television shows and watching entertainment media. | | | | operate at 640 X 480 resolution and you can begin |
| It is a byproduct of the digital age in electronics. By | | | | to see why such an antiquated technology for |
| converting the picture and sound in digital format, | | | | television viewing needed to be changed. |
| great improvements have been made in the quality | | | | But there have been even more improvements to |
| of the viewing experience in recent years. We are | | | | the resolution factor in HDTV. Consider that standard |
| now able to watch digitally produced movies and | | | | televisions may have had 525 lines of information to |
| programs by DVD and enjoy a much richer picture | | | | display on the screen but they usually displayed that |
| quality and sound that can even begin to rival movie | | | | information on every other line at a time. Every 1/60 |
| theaters, however on a much smaller scale. | | | | of a second it would display first all of the even |
| There are actually several improvements to TV | | | | numbered lines on the screen, and then change to |
| viewing that have been made available in the HDTV | | | | display the odd numbered lines. And this happens |
| standard and perhaps the most obvious is the display | | | | over and over again. Because it happens so fast, |
| itself. Older televisions could only display a TV picture | | | | your brain makes the adjustment for the alternating |
| that consisted of 525 lines on the screen. Each line | | | | information and assembles the picture as one piece. |
| had about 500 pixels of information to show, so that | | | | This process is called interlacing in standard TV. |
| basically adds up to 525 X 500 resolution. Just think | | | | |